TN 
24- 

C3 
A3 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


t 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 
.OYD  L.  ROOT  State  Mineralogist 


Francisco! 


BULLETIN  No.  97 


[September,  1926 


CALIFORNIA 

^MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1925 


LIBRARY 


UNITED  STATES 
DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

Class  -^.^^^.:.S..... 


Book  K 


£12; 


^'=\ 


OOTKRMIIBKT  PHDrrraO  OFFIOl 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 
LLOYD  L.  ROOT  State  Mineralogist 


San  Francisco] 


BULLETIN  No.  97 


[September.  1926 


CALIFORNIA 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1925 


By 
WALTER  W.  BRADLEY 


47818 


CAXIFORNIA  STATE  PRINTING  OFFICE 

JOHN  E.  KING.  State  Printer 

SACRAMENTO,  1926 


I 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

LETTER    OF  TRAXSMITTAI^ ^ 

INTRODUCTION 9 

Chapter  I. 

SUMMARY  OF  THE  MINERAL.  INDUSTRY  IN  CALIFORNIA  DURING  THE 

YEAR     OF     1925 11 

Tabulatiox  of  the  Mineral,  Productiox  Showixg  Comparative  Amouxts 

AND    Vaxues — 1924    and    1925 12 

Table  Showing  Comparative  Mineral  Production  of  the  Various  Coun- 
ties IN  California  for  1924  and  1925 13 

Total  Production,  1887-1925 14 

Chapter  II. 
FUELS    (HYDROCARBONS)— 

Introductory    15 

Coal    15 

Natural    Gas 16 

Petroleum 20 

Chapter  III. 

MUTALS — 

Introductory  34 

Aluminum    35 

Antimony     35 

Arsenic 37 

Beryllium   38 

Bismuth 38 

Cadmium    39 

Cobalt 39 

Copper 40 

Gold 43 

Iridium.      {See  Platinum.) 

Iron      47 

Le.vd     4  7 

Manganese    49 

Molybdenum    50 

Nickel    51 

Osmium     51 

Palladium    51 

Platinum     51 

,          Quicksilver     53 

Silver    55 

Tin     57 

Tungsten     58 

Vanadium .60 

Zinc 60 

Chapter  IV. 
STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS— 

Introductory  62 

Asphalt 63 

Bituminous   Rock 63 

Brick   and   Hollow   Tile 64 

Cement 67 

Chromite    68 

Granite    70 


4  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  IV — Continued. 

STRUCTURAL   MATERIALS — Continued.  Pa 

Lime    ■ 

Magnesite    '1 

Marble    ''9 

Onyx  and  Travertine 79 

Sandstone   80 

Serpentine    81 

Slate  81 

Stone — Miscellaneous    83 

Paving    Blocks    84 

Grinding  Mill  Pebbles 84 

Sand   and   Gravel 85 

Crushed  Rock 86 

Chapter  V. 
INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS — 

Introductory  90 

Asbestos    91 

Barytes     93 

Clay- — -Pottery     94 

Dolomite    96 

Feldspar    97 

Fluorspar    9S 

Fuller's  Earth 09 

Gems   100 

Graphite    in 2 

Gypsum 103 

Infusorial  and  Diatomaceous  Earths 105 

Limestone   1 07 

LiTHIA     108 

Mica 108 

Mineral  Paint 109 

Mineral  Water 110 

Phosphates 111 

Pumice  and  Volcanic  Ash 111 

Pyrites    112 

Shale  Oil 113 

Silica — Sand    and    Quartz 114 

Sillimanite — Andalusite — Cyanite  Group 11: 

SOAPSTONE   AND   TaLC 116 

Strontium    118  : 

Sulphur 118 

Chapter  VI. 
SALINES — 

Introductory    120 

Borates    120 

Calcium  Chloride 122 

Magnesium   Salts   124 

Nitrates 124 

Potash    125 

Salt 126 

Soda   127 

Chapter  VII. 

MINERAL   PRODUCTION  OF   CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES — 

Introductory    128 

Alameda 129 

Alpine    129 

Amador 129 

Butte 130 


CONTENTS.  5 

Chapter  VII — Continued. 

MINERAL   PRODUCTION   OF   CALIFORNIA  BY   COUNTIES — Continued.  Page 

Calaveras  130 

Colusa    131 

Contra  Costa 131 

Del    Norte    131 

El  Dorado 132 

Fresno    132 

Glenn    133 

Humboldt    133 

Imperial     134 

IxYo    134 

Kern    135 

Kings    135 

Lake    136 

L\ssEN    136 

Los  Angeles 136 

Madera 137 

Marin    137 

Mariposa     13  S 

Mendocino 138 

Merced    138 

Modoc    139 

Mono , 139 

Monterey 139 

Napa    140 

Nevada    140 

Orange   141 

I'L.\CER    141 

Plumas   142 

Riverside    142 

Sacramento     143 

San  Benito  143 

San  Bernardino 144 

San   Diego   144 

San  Francisco 145 

San  Joaquin 145 

San  Luis  Obispo 146 

San  Mateo 146 

Santa   Barbar.a.    146 

Santa  Clara 147 

Santa  Cruz 147 

Shasta    148 

Sierra  148 

Siskiyou     149 

Solano    149 

Sonoma   149 

Stanislaus    150 

Sutter    150 

Tehama    151 

Trinity 151 

Tulare    151 

Tuolumne    152 

Ventura     • 152 

Yolo 153 

Yuba    I53 

APPENDIX. 
WINING   BUREAU  ACT 154 

PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 157 

[NDEX 167 


b  CONTEXTS. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Pagi 
Lorenz  Hydraulic  Mine,  near  Weaverville,  Trinity  County 4; 

P.    &   H.    Gasoline    Steam-Shovel    and    Pierce    Gravel    Gold-Washing   Machine    on 

Jenkins  &  Taylor  Placer  near  French  Gulch,  Shasta  County 4; 

Concentrating  Plant  of  California  Zinc  Company  at  Winthrop,  Shasta  County 01 

Plant  of  Santa  Cruz  Portland  Cement  Company,  Davenport,  Santa  Cruz  County. 

Airplane   photo Ct 

El  Dorado  County  Slate  Placed  on  Roof  of  a  Residence  Being  Built  in  Oakland, 

California SI 

Plant  of  Granite  Rock  Company  at  Logan,  San  Benito  County St 

Asbestos  Fiberizing  Mill  of  the  San  Benito  Asbestos  Company,  San  Benito  County     91 

Gypsum   Deposit  of  Pacific   Portland   Cement   Company   in  the   Fish   Mountains, 

Imperial    County    , 104 

Three-Hundred-Ton  Plaster  Mill  of  Pacific  Portland  Cement  Company  at  Plaster 

City,  Imperial  County 104 

MAPS  AND  CHARTS. 

Graph  Showing  Annual  Value  and  Increase  of  Mineral  Production  of  California 

from   1890  to   1924 14 

Monthly  Production  and  Utilization  of  Natural  Gas  in  Southern  California 18 

Monthly  Production  of  Casing-Head  Gas  in  the  California  Oil  Fields 18 

Outline  Map  of  California  Showing  Location  of  Oil  Fields  and  Districts 27 

Current  Trend  of  World  Production  of  Major  Non-Ferrous  Metals 36 

Prices  of  Electrolytic  Copper,  TVire  Bars,  Ingot  Bars  and  Cakes  F.  O.  B.  Eastern 

Seaboard  Refinery,  Cents  per  Pound 40 

Prices  of  Common  Lead,  De.silverized  and  Soft  Missouri,  at  New  York  City,  Cents 

per   Pound    48 

Prices  of  Bar  Silver  Bullion,  999  Fine  at  New  York  City,  Cents  per  Troy  Ounces     56 

Prices  of  Slab  Zinc.   Prime  Western  Brands,   at   St.   Louis,   Missouri,   Cents   per 

Pound    60 

Prices  of  Canadian  Asbestos  "Crude"  and  "Fiber,"  F.  O.  B.  Quebec,  1922-1925 92 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


September,  1926. 

To  His  Excellency,  The  Honorable  Friend  Wm.  Richardson, 
Governor  of  the  State  of  California. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  herewith  transmit  Bulletin  No.  97  of  the 
State  Mining  Bureau,  being  the  annual  report  of  the  statistics  of  the 
mineral  production  of  California. 

The  remarkable  variety,  total  valuation,  and  wide  distribution  of 

many  of  our  minerals  revealed  herein  show  California's  importance 

as  a  producer  of  commercial  minerals  among  the  states  of  the  Union. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

Llotd  L.  Root, 
State  Mineralogist. 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  the  endeavor  of  the  staff  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  in  these 
annual  reports  of  the  mineral  industries  of  California,  to  so  compile 
ti.ie  statistics  of  production  that  they  -svill  be  of  actual  use  to  producers 
and  to  those  interested  in  the  utilization  of  the  mineral  products  of  our 
state,  while  at  the  same  time  keeping  the  individual's  data  confidential. 
In  addition  to  the  mere  figures  of  output,  we  have  included  descriptions 
of  the  uses  and  characteristics  of  many  of  the  materials,  as  well  as  a 
brief  mention  of  their  occurrences. 

The  compilation  of  accurate  and  dependable  figures  is  an  extremely 
difficult  undertaking,  and  the  State  Mineralogist  takes  the  opportunity 
of  here  expressing  his  appreciation  of  the  cooperation  of  the  producers 
in  making  this  work  possible.  A  fuller  appreciation  of  the  value  of 
early  responses  to  the  requests  sent  out  in  January-  will  result  in 
earlier  completion  of  the  manuscript.  Statistics  lose  much  of  their 
value  if  their  publication  is  unnecessarily  delayed. 

Some  of  the  data  relative  to  properties  and  uses  of  many  of  the 

minerals  herein  described  are  repeated  from  preceding  reports,  as  it 

is  intended  that  this  annual  statistical  bulletin  shall  be  somewhat  of 

a  compendium  of  information  on  California's  commercial  minerals  and 

their  utilization. 

Lloyd  L.  Root, 
State  Mineralogist. 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY,  CALIFORNIA,  1925. 


DATA  COMPILED   FROM   DIRECT   RETURNS    FROM    PRO- 
DUCERS IN  ANSWER  TO  INQUIRIES  SENT  OUT  BY 
THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 
FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO, 
CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  output  of  California  for  the  year  1925 
was  $434,519,660,  being  an  increase  of  $59,898,871  over  the  1924  total 
of  $374,620,789.  There  were  fifty-five  different  mineral  substances, 
exclusive  of  a  segregation  of  the  various  stones  grouped  under  gems; 
and  all  of  the  fifty-eight  counties  of  tlie  state  contributed  to  the  list. 

As  revealed  by  the  data  following,  tlie  salient  features  of  1925  com- 
pared with  the  preceding  year  were  :  The  considerable  increase  in  A'alue 
of  the  petroleum  yield.  Material  advances  were  also  made  by  cement, 
miscellaneous  stone,  zinc,  lead,  and  quicksilver ;  while  decreases  were 
registered  by  brick  and  hollow  building  blocks  and  by  salt.  Gold, 
copper,  silver,  and  pottery  clay  fairh-  well  held  their  own  with  only 
slight  drops  in  total  value.  There  were  a  number  of  other  minor 
variations.  The  net  result  was  an  increase  in  the  grand  total  for  all 
groups  of  practically  sixty  million  dollars,  as  stated  above.  Petroleum 
accounted  for  an  increase  of  $55,956,955  in  total  value,  due  both  to 
advanced  prices  and  an  increase  from  228,933,471  barrels  to  232,492,147 
barrels  in  quantity,  or  a  difference  of  3,558,676  barrels. 

Of  the  metals :  lead  increased  from  4,984,387  pounds,  worth  $398,751, 
to  7,352,422  pounds,  worth  $639,661 ;  zinc  from  3,060,000  pounds  and 
$198,000  to  11,546,602  pounds  and  $877,542;  quicksilver  from  7,948 
flasks  and  $543,080  to  7,683  flasks  and  $621,831;  platinum  from  273 
fine  ounces  and  $36,452  to  292  fine  ounces  and  $39,937.  Though  gold 
decreased  slightly,  California  continues  to  account  for  approximately 
30  per  cent  of  the  gold  output  of  the  United  States. 

Of  the  structural  group  :  cement  advanced  from  11,655,131  barrels, 
worth  $23,225,850,  to  13,206,630  barrels,  worth  $25,043,335;  granite 
from  a  valuation  of  $1,211,046  to  $1,853,859.  Brick  and  hollow  building 
blocks  or  tile  decreased  in  total  value  from  $9,137,908  to  $7,503,976, 
due  mainly  to  common  brick,  though  all  classes  showed  drops  except 
fire-brick  which  advanced  slightly  in  value  for  a  slightly  smaller  quan- 
tity. Lime  and  magnesite  both  dropped  off'  slightly.  Of  the  'indus- 
trial' group,  as  is  usually  the  case,  there  were  a  number  of  fluctuations, 
mineral  water  and  the  sillimanite  group  being  the  only  ones  to  show 
material  increases.  Of  the  salines,  calcium  chloride,  potash,  and  soda 
increased  in  value,  with  the  borates,  magnesium  salts,  and  common  salt 
decreasing. 

The  figures  of  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau  are  made  up  from  reports 
received  direct  from  the  producers  of  the  various  minerals.  Care  is 
exercised  in  avoiding  duplication,  and  any  error  is  likely  to  be  on  the 
side  of  under-  rather  than  over-estimation. 

California  yields  commercially  a  greater  number  and  variety  of 
mineral  products  than  any  state  in  tlie  United  States,  and  probably 
more  than   any   otlier  equal  area  elsewliere  of  the  earth.     Tlie  total 


12 


MINEUAI;    INDUSTKY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


annual  value  of  lier  output  lias  beon  surpassed  hy  not  more  tlian  four 
or  five  others,  and  those  usually  the  fxvea\  eoal  states  of  east  of  tlif 
Mississip])i.     Tlie  past  two  years,  California  has  been  second  only  to 
Pennsylvania.     California  was  for  many  years  the  sole  domestic  sourer 
of  borax,  chromite  and  maiiiiesite  and  in  which  we  still  lead.    AVe  le;i 
all  other  states  in  the  production  of  gold,  quicksilver,  and  platinum  ;  ^ 
and  have  alternated  in  the  lead  with  Colorado  in  tungsten,  and  Avitli 
Oklahoma  in  petroleum. 

By   Substances. 

The  folloAving  table  shows  the  comi-)arative  yield   of   mineral  sub- 
stances of  California  for  1924  and  1925,  as  compiled  from  the  returns 
received  at  the   State  Mining  Bureau,   8an  Francisco,   in   answer  to 
inquiries  sent  to  producers : 

Substance 

1924 

1925 

Increase+ 

Dcjrcase — 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Asbestos .._ _. 

Bituminous  rock.-. 

Borates 

70  tons 

6,040  tons 

52,070  tons 

S4.750 

14,922 

1,599,149 

9,137,908 

23,225.850 

6,700 

651,857 

8,800 

6,823,704 

71,271 

68.112 

67,295 

4,800 

13.150,175 

1,211,046 

53,210 

398.751 

703,355 

582,660 

2,269 

900,183 

145,883 

25,785 

140,253 

5,234 

818,726 

15.153,140 

46,124  tons 

"13,206,630  bbls"""" 

591  tons 

537,587  tons 

730  tons 

46,968,499  lbs. 

42,852  tons 

8,165  tons 

5,280  tons 

Sl.526.938 

7.503,976 

25,043,335 

10,912 

674.376 

3,880 

6,669,527 

104,900 

59,615 

91,842 

10,663 

13,065,330 

1,853,859 

172,444 

639,661 

685,528 

494,525 

$72,211— 

1,633,932— 

1,817,485+ 

4,212+ 

22.519+ 

4,920— 

1.54,177— 

33.629+ 

8,497— 

24,547+ 

5,863+ 

84,845— 

642,813+ 

119,234+ 

240,910+ 

17,827— 

88,135— 

2,269— 

27,239— 

13,330— 

6,335— 

24,148— 

1,735+ 

411,729- 

736,942- 

16,12U-r 

55,956,955+ 

3.485+ 

82,363+ 

467— 

10,715+ 

78,751  + 

209,311— 

10,762+ 

61,774+ 

262,187— 

3,686— 

235,853+ 

1,443,474+ 

97,5-;8- 

678.P42+ 

10,915— 

Brick  and   hollow  buildins 
tile. _: 

Cement 

11,655,131  bbls. 

350  tons 

417,928  tons 

1,425  tons 

52,089,349  lbs. 

28,843  tons 

9,055  tons 

5,290  tons 

Clav  (potterj') -  -  -     -     ..- 

Coal 

Copper 

Dolomite.. 

Feldspar ... 

Fuller's  earth _ .  . 

Gold.. 

Gypsum. 

25,569  tons 

4,984,387  lbs. 

62,029  tons 

219,476  tons 

109  tons 

67,236  tons 

4,823  tons 

1,115  tons 

^61,579  cu.  ft. 

532  tons 

8,159,211  gals. 

209,921,596  M  cu.  ft. 

b 

228,933,471  bbls. 

273  fine  oz. 
33,107  tons 
4,919  tons 
124,214  tons 

7,948  flasks 
318,800  tons 
6,700  cu.  ft. 
6,808  tons 
3,555,153  fine  oz. 
16,179  tons 
32,536  tons 

107,613  tons 

7,352,422  lbs. 

61,922  tons 

319,977  tons 

Lime 

Limestone 

Magnesite.     ....     _     ._ 

64,e23  tons 

4,221  tons 

832  tons 

35,664  cu.  ft.  ■ 

669  tons 

12,115,072  gals. 

194,719,924  Mcu.  ft. 

19,940  cu.  ft. 

232,492,147  bbls. 

292  fine  oz. 

36,355  tons 

5,319  tons 

129,500  tons 

7,683  flasks 
284,068  tons 
14,704  cu.  ft. 
12,498  tons 
3,054,416  fine  oz. 
15,465  tons 
48.625  tons 

872.944 

132,553 

19,450 

116,105 

6,969 

1,230,455 

15,890,082 

16,120 

330,609,829 

3S,937 

829,770 

32,937 

528,550 

621,831 

949,826 

14,362 

96.780 

2,119,765 

239,084 

947,649 

17,409,854 

348,471 

877.542 

«1,957,484 

Magnesium  salts 

Marble 

Natural  gas  .. 

Petrnlcum 

271,'152,874 

36,452 

747,407 

33,404 

517,835 

543,080 

1,159,137 

3,600 

35,006 

2,381,952 

242,770 

711.796 

15,966,380 

446,009 

198,900 

d  1,968,399 

Potash 

Pumice  and  volcanic  ash 

Pyrites  . 

Salt 

Sandstone 

Silica  (sand  and  quartz) 

Silver.- 

Soapstone  and  talc _ 

Soda 

Tungsten  concentrates 

781  tons 
3,060,000  lbs. 

573  tons 
11,546,602  lbs. 

$374,620,789 

$434,519,660 

$59,898,871  + 

*I'iider  'unapportioned.' 

"  Ini-ludes  onyx  and  travertine. 

^  Combined  with  marble. 

••  Includes  macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  riprap,  paving  blocks,  sand,  gravel,  and  grinding-mill  pebbles. 

J  Licludcs  calcium  chloride,  diatomaceous  earth,  iron  ore,  shale  oil,  sillimanite-andalusite,  sulphur,  aluminum  sul- 
phate, giaubcr  salt,  potash  alum,  mici.  schist,  radio  gr.lena  crystals,  arsenic. 

«  Includes  calcium  chloride,  bituminous  rock,  antimony,  asbestos,  graphite,  infusorial  and  diatomaceous  earth,  iron 
ore,  shide  oil  sillimanite-andalusite. 


STATISTICS   OF   AXNT'AL    PRODUCTIOX.  13 
By   Counties. 

The  following  table  shows  the  comparative  value  of  the  mineral  pro- 
duction of  the  various  counties  in  the  state,  for  the  years  1924  and  1925  : 

County.  J92J,  1925 

Alameda    $2,634,645  $2,916,506 

Alpine    2,552  520 

Amador     ___- 2,938,865  2,625,703 

Butte 641,750  546.178 

Calaveras  __::___: 1,572,419  1,450,618 

Colusa 77,267  103,230 

Contra  Costa 2,348,090  2,544,179 

Del    Norte    722,265  270,582 

El  Dorado 395,572  352,828 

Fresno 12.547,798  9,264,996 

Glenn 41,550  92,288 

Humboldt 485,478  719,151 

Imperial    139,908  330,965 

Invo 2,110,075  2,585,145 

Kern    74,164,451  89,400,726 

Kings 725  520 

Lake     96,396  73,348 

>        :..n 37,908  2,404 

Angeles 108,420,709  193,180,000 

i-a    955,469  1,377,458 

Marin     527,231  -434,802 

Mariposa    234,707  634,862 

Mendocino    60,768  16,533 

Merced    87,603  80,262 

Modoc    1,300  2,400 

Mono 126,691  184,745 

Monterey    286,490  277,721 

Napa 359,265  229,172 

Nevada 2,945,267  2,352,877 

Orange    40,481,210  49,104,490 

Placer    492,180  550,413 

Plumas    3,876,105  4,401,508 

Riverside    5,508,244  5,179,108 

Sacramento    2,196,210  2,504,405 

San    Benito    2,144,603  2,617,396 

San   Bernardino   12,042,431  14,179,663 

San    Diego  ■ 1,013,119  1,129,757 

San    Francisco    150,258  131,158 

San    Joaquin    002,500  737,818 

San   Luis    Obispo    317,779  136,477 

San   Mateo 302,171  1,577,513 

Santa  Barbara    5,159,740  4,338,431 

Santa    Clara    1,150.401  1,320,858 

Santa    Cruz    4,339,233  3,227,036 

Sha.sta     4,754,664  4,300,449 

Sierra    83  2,476  1,386,301 

Siskiyou    140,787  219,626 

Solano 3,089,475  2,678,547 

Sonoma 172,051  160,231 

Stanislaus 345,138  415,466 

Sutter    97  397 

Tehama     •_ 34,454  77,183 

Trinity    509,344  502,289 

Tulare     498,674  426,979 

Tuolumne 629,156  567,248 

Ventura    6,089,394  17,853,540 

Yolo     15,800  23,060 

Yuba    2,189,881  2,721,594 


Total    values f 374, 020, 789  $434,519,000 


14 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Total    Mineral   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  total  value  of  mineral  production 
of  California  by  years  since  1887,  in  whicli  year  compilation  of  such 
data  by  the  State  IMining  Bureau  began.  At  the  side  of  these  figures 
the  writer  has  placed  the  values  of  the  most  important  metal  and  non- 
metal  items — gold  and  petroleum. 

In  the  same  period  copper  made  an  important  growth  beginning  with 
1897   following   the   entry   of   the    Shasta   County   mines,   and   more 
recently  Plumas  County.     Cement  increased  rapidly  from  1902,  while 
crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel  as  a  group  parallels  the  cement  increase. 
Quicksilver  has   been   up   and   down.      ^Mineral   water  and   salt   have  j 
always   been  important   items,   bvit   the  values  fluctuate.     Borax   lias  ' 
increased  materially  since  1896.     War-time  increases,  1915-1918,  were  j 
shown  hy  chromite,  copper,  lead,  maguesite,  manganese,  silver,  tungsten  ' 
and  zinc.     Most  of  these,  except  silver,  have  since  declined ;  though  i 
structural  materials  and  copper  increased  in  1920-1924,  also  lead  and  , 
magnesite  in  1923 ;  lead  and  zinc  in  1925.  ' 


Total  Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Years,  Since  1887. 


Year 

Total  value  of 
all  minerals 

Gold,  value 

Petroleum, 
value 

1887 

119,785,868 

19,469,320 

16,681,731 

18,039,666 

18,872,413 

18,300,168 

18,811,261 

20,203,294 

22,844,663 

24,291,398 

25,142,4-11 

27,280.079 

29,313,460 

,'?2,622,945 

34,355,981 

35,069,105 

37,759,040 

43,778,348 

43,069,227 

46,776,085 

55,697,949 

66,363,198 

82,972,209 

88,419,079 

87,497.879 

88.972,385 

98,644,639 

93,314,773 

96,663,369 

127,901,610 

161,202,962 

199,753,837 

195,830,002 

•  242,099.667 

208,157,472 

245,183,826 

344.024.678 

374,620,789 

4.34.519.660 

$13,588,614 
12,750,000 
11,212,913 
12..309,793 
12,728,869 
12,571,900 
12,422.811 
13,923,281 
15,334,317 
17,181,562 
15,871,401 
15,906,478 
15,336,031 
15,863,355 
16,986,044 
16,910,320 
16,471,264 
19,109,600 
19,197,043 
18,732,452 
16.727,928 
18.761,559 
20,237,870 
19,715,440 
19.738.908 
19,713,478 
20,406,958 
20,653,496 
22.442,296 
21,410,741 
20,087,504 
16,529,162 
10,695,955 
14,311,013 
15,704,822 
14,670,346 
13,379,013 
13,1.50,175 
13,065,330 

$1,357,144 

1888 

1889 

1,380,666 
368,048 

1890 

384,200 

1891 

401,264 

1892 

1893 

561,333 
608,092 

1894 

1,064.521 

1895 -_- 

1,000,235 

1896 : 

1,180,793 

1897.     

1,918,269 

1898 

2  376.420 

1899 

2,660,793 

1900 

4,152,928 

1901 

2,961,102 

1902       .... 

4.692,189 

WO.''. 

7  313  271 

1904 

8,317.809 

1905 

9,007,820 

1906 

9,238,020 

1907 

1908 

16,783,943 
26,566,181 

1909. 

32,398,187 

1910 . 

37,68:<,542 

1911 

40.552.088 

1912 

41,868.344 

1913 

48.578.014 

1914   ...  .    .   . 

47,487,109 

1915 

43,503,837 

1916 

57,421,334 

1917 

86,976,209 

1918 

127,459,221 

1919 ■ 

142.610,563 

1920 

178,394,937 

1921  -- 

203.138,225 

1922 

173.381,265 

1923 .., 

242.731.309 

1924 

274.652.874 

1925  

330,609,829 

Total  values 

?3,904,915,476 

$641,813,072 

?2,213,7!7,928 

STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


i 

i 

neee 

1 

vooc 

i 
ooex 



/ 

xtoa. 

— 

3RAPH  ShOWINS 

XIOOC 

A 

ANNUAL  VALUE  AND  INCREASE  OF  THE  MINERAL  PRODUCTION 
CALIFORNIA  F(*OM  1890  TO  1924 

A 

1 

Max. 

i 

V 

ANNUAL    APPOOPPIATIONS    FOR     SUPPORT   OF  THE   STATE    MINiNS    BUREAU 

1  E    THE   MONEY    SPENT    BY   THE    STATE    IN   AIDING   AND    ENCOURAGING 

THE    DEVELOPMENT    OF   ITS    MINEBAL   RESOURCES 

r 

j»aw 

1 

1 

w 

'ccfta: 

f 

* 

i'^ 

1 

APF 

=ROPR                 " 

ATION 

GRAPV 

\\ 

paooc 

SSO(XX> 
fSS.OOO 

y 

-*  v.. 

/ 

\ 

y 

XI.OOC 

/ 

/ 

aaax 

^ 

§ 
? 

1 

k 

1 

11  8 

\ 

le 

t90    18 

S5     19 

00    19 

05     19 

10      19 

15      19 

20     1925 

■t 

14  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


I 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


CHAPTER  TWO. 


FUELS. 


Amono;  the  most  important  mineral  products  of  California  are  its 
fuels.  This  subdivision  includes  coal,  natural  gas,  and  petroleum,  the 
combined  values  of  which  made  up  practically  80  per  cent  of  the  state's 
entire  mineral  output  for  the  year  1925. 

There  are  deposits  of  peat  known  in  several  localities  in  California, 
small  amounts  of  which  are  used  as  a  fertilizer,  and  in  stock-food 
preparations,  but  none  has  yet  been  recorded  as  utilized  for  fuel. 

Comparison  of  values  during  1924  and  1925  is  shown  in  the  following 
table : 


1924 

1925 

Increase-t- 

. 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Value 

Coal 

Natural  gas 

1,425  tons 
200,921,596  M  ou.  ft. 
228,933,471  bbls. 

$8,800 

15,153,140 

274,052.874 

730  tons 
194,719,924  M  cu.  ft. 
232,492,147  bbls. 

S3,880 

15,890,082 

330,609,829 

$4,920— 

736,942+ 

55,956,955+ 

S289  814  814 

S346,503,791 

$56,688,977+ 

COAL. 

Bihliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVil,  XiX-XXI  (inc.).  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bulletins  285,  316, 
431,  471,  581 ;  Ann.  Rpt.  22,  Pt.  HI. 

Coal  production  in  California  in  1925  totaled  730  short  tons  valued 
at  $3,880,  being  credited  to  Amador,  Mendocino,  and  Riverside  coun- 
ties. Only  a  small  part  of  it  was  marketed,  as  it  was  mainly  consumed 
for  local  camp  purposes  and  for  power  and  forge  u.se  in  development 
work  on  the  deposits.  Considerable  development  work  is  under  way  in 
Shasta  County,  as  well  as  in  Mendocino.  Experiments  on  a  commercial 
scale  are  being  made  by  the  Pacific  Gas  and  Electric  Company  with 
a  new  type  of  generator  to  produce  gas  from  Californian  coal  at  their 
]\Iarysville  gas  plant.  Incidentallj'  the  new  method  of  gas  making  is 
not  a  return  to  that  in  use  before  the  introduction  of  oil,  when  the 
coal  had  to  be  retorted  12  to  14  hours.  It  is  stated  that  in  the  new 
machines  coal  will  be  transferred  into  gas  in  five  minutes. 

Total    Coal    Production    of    California. 

The  very  considerable  output  of  coal  in  the  years  previous  to  1883 
was  almost  entii-ely  from  the  Mount  Diablo  district.  Contra  Costa 
Count3^  Later  the  Te.sla  mine  in  Corral  Hollow,  Alameda  County, 
was  an  important  producer  for  a  few  years.  Stone  Canyon,  Monterey 
County,  was  also  an  important  producer  for  a  sliort  time,  and  tliere 
has  been  some  coal  shipped  from  properties  in  Amador,  Fresno,  Orange, 
Riverside  and  Siskiyou  counties.  The  following  tabulation  gives  the 
annual  tonnages  and  values,  according  to  available  records: 


]6 

MIXER A 
Coal 

.  ixnrsTK 

Output  and 

Y  OF  CALIFORXIA. 
Value  by  Years. 

Year 

Tons 

A^alue 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1861 

6,620 

23,400 

43,200 

50,700 

60,530 

84,020 

124,690 

143,676 

157,234 

141,890 

152,493 

190,859 

186,611 

215,352 

166,638 

128,049 

107,789 

134,237 

147,879 

236,950 

140,000 

112,592 

76,162 

77,485 

71,615 

100,000 

50,000 

95,000 

121,280 

110,711 

93,301 

85,178 

72,603 

59,887 

S38,065 
134,550 
248,400 
291,525 
348,048 
483,115 
716,968 
826,137 
904,096 
815,868 
876,835 
1,097,439 
1,073,013 
1,238,274 
958,169 
736,282 
619,787 
771,863 
850,304 
1,362,463 
805,000 
647,404 
380,810 
309,950 
286,460 
300,000 
150,000 
380,000 
288,232 
283,019 
204,902 
209,711 
167,555 
139,862 

1895 

79,858 

70,649 

87,449 

143,045 

160,941 

176,956 

150,724 

88,460 

93,026 

79,062 

46,500 

24,850 

23,734 

18,496 

49,389 

11,033 

11,047 

14,484 

25,198 

11,859 

10,299 

4,037 

3,527 

6,343 

2,983 

2.07S 

$193,790 

161,335 

196,255 

337,475 

420,109 

535,531 

401,772 

248,622 

265,383 

376,494 

144,500 

61,600 

55,849 

55,503 

216,913 

23,484 

18,297 

39,092 

85,809 

28,806 

26,662 

7.030 

7,691 

16,149 

8,203 

5,450 

63,578 

135,100 

5,090 

8,800 

3,880 

1S62 

1896 

1863         

1897- - 

1898 - - 

1864... 

1865- ... 

1899 

1900 - 

1901 -   

1866 

1867 

1868 

1902 

1869  

1903- -  . 

1870        

1904 

1871 

1905 

1872 

1906 

1873 

1907 

1874 

1908- 

1875 

I  1909 

1876- . 

1910 

1911-- - 

1878 

1912 

1879- . 

1913 

1S80-.   -     ...  .- 

1914--   - 

1881 

1915   .  . 

1882-  

1916 

1917 

1883 

1884   

1918 

1885.. 

1919 

1886 

1920 

1887 

1921 12.467 

1888- 

1922 .  - 

27,020 

1889- 

1923--- .-_ - 

1924 

1925  .  --  -  

1,010 

1,425 

730 

1890 

1891.. - 

1892 

Totals 

1893 

5,207,310 

$23,098,358 

1894 - 

The  tonnages  in  the  above  table  for  the  years  1861-1S86  (incl.)  are  taken  from  the 
U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  "Mineral  Resources  of  the  U.  S.,  1910,"  p.  107.  The  values 
assigned  for  the  years  previous  to  1883  are  those  given  by  W.  A.  Goodyear  (Min- 
eral Res.,  1SS2,  pp.  93—94),  being  an  average  of  $5.75  per  ton.  FVom  1887  to  date 
the  figures  are   those  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau. 

NATURAL   GAS. 

Bihliographij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  X.  XII,  XIII,  XIV. 
Bulletins  3,  16,  19,  69,  73,  89.  IMonthlv  Summary,  Oil  &  Gas 
Supervisor.  Dec.  1919;  Aug.,  1922;  Mar.,  1923;  Mar.  and  Apr., 
1926. 

Statistics  on  the  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  are  in  a  con- 
siderable degree  diileult  to  arrive  at,  as  much  of  it  that  is  utilized 
directly  at  the  wells  for  heating,  lighting,  and  driving  gas  engines  is 
not  measured.  Hence,  it  is  necesssary  to  approximate  the  output  of 
many  of  the  operators  in  the  oil  fields,  estimated  on  the  number  of 
lights,  and  on  the  number  and  horsepower  of  gas  engines  and  steam 
boilers  thus  operated.  The  figures  here  given  are  for  gas  utilized 
locally  and  also  that  sold  for  distribution  to  consumers;  and  we  con- 
sider are  not  over-estimated,  particularly  in  the  six  oil-producing 
counties.  It  must  be  remembered  that  several  of  our  important  oil 
fields  are  removed  many  miles  from  the  site  of  anj"  other  industry,  and 
that  the  gathering  of  small  amounts  of  gas  and  transporting  it  for  any 
considerable  distance  may  not  always  be  profitable,  nor  is  it  often 
possible  to  have  pipe-line  facilities  available  to  handle  the  gas  aceom- 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  17 

pauj'iiig-  the  early  gas  production  in  newly  developed  fields.  Wherever 
feasible,  casing-head  gas  is  used  in  driving  gas  engines  for  pumping 
and  drilling,  and  in  firing  tlie  boilers  of  steam  driven  plants. 

The  most  notable  gas  developments  in  California  in  recent  years  have 
been  in  the  Elk  Hills  and  Buena  Vista  Hills  in  Kern  County,  north- 
east of  the  Midway  district,  and  in  the  new  oil  fields  in  the  Los  Angeles 
basin,  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties. 

The  following  paragraphs  are  quoted,  with  accompanying  charts, 
from  a  recent  report  by  Mr.  C.  C.  Brown,^  gas  engineer  of  the  Railroad 
Commission  of  California,  which  is  a  continuation  of  the  earlier  report 
by  Masser.2 

"The  oil  industry  is  coming  to  realize  more  and  more  the  important  role  which 
natural  gas  plavs  in  the  economic  recovery  of  petroleum  from  the  oil  fields.  In  the 
past  little  attenipt  has  been  made  to  conserve  the  gas  within  the  oil  reservoirs,  it 
being  felt  that  the  production  or  rather,  the  releasing,  of  the  initial  compressed  gas 
was  an  unavoidable  factor  in  oil  field  operation,  and  that  the  wastage  of  this  product 
over  and  above  the  amount  needed  for  field  use  and  sale  under  existing  contracts 
to  gas  distributing  companies  was  not  a  serious  economic  loss. 

"However,  recent  experiments  and  tests  have  definitely  proved  that  the  conser- 
vation of  this  natural  gas  within  the  oil  sands  is  of  utmost  importance  to  the  oil 
operator  if  he  is  to  secure  the  maximum  length  of  producing  life  and  maximum  total 
production  of  oil  from  his  wells. 

"As  a  matter  of  fact,  gas  is  being  reintroduced  into  the  oil-bearing  strata  in  a 
number  of  cases  where  the  original  gas  had  been  dissipated  and  where  the  wells  had 
long  ceased  to  flow.  The  results  achieved  by  this  procedure  have  been,  to  some 
extent,  encouraging. 

"Another  factor  that  has  tended  to  emphasize  the  value  of  natural  gas  in  the  last 
few  years  is  the  installation  of  large  numbers  of  gasoline  extraction  plants,  through 
which  tremendous  quantities  of  casing-head  gas  are  being  processed  for  the  extrac- 
tion of  natural  gasoline. 

"The  natural  gasoline  industry  has  grown  from  a  comparatively  few  small  plants 
installed  some  twenty  years  ago  to  something  over  eleven  hundred  plants  in  the 
United  States,  with  a  capitalization  of  over  $2.50,000,000,  with  a  total  daily  capacity 
of  about  four  and  one-half  million  gallons.  The  production  of  natural  gasoline  is 
increasing  at  the  rate  of  approximately  10  per  cent  a  year. 

"Another  very  tangible  factor  in  the  value  of  natural  gas  is  its  value  as  a  fuel 
commodity.  *  *  *  jn  the  greater  portion  of  this  territory,  natural  gas  is 
utilized  for  domestic,  commercial  and  industrial  purposes.  In  the  cities  of  Los  Angeles 
and  Santa  Barbara  a  mixed  gas  is  used  having  a  heat  value  of  850  B.t.u.  per  cubic 
foot.  This  gas  is  produced  by  'cracking'  or  'reforming'  natural  gas  and  mixing  it 
with  straight  natural  gas  having  a  heat  value  of  about  1200  B.t.u. 

"The  'reforming'  or  'cracking'  of  natural  gas  is  a  process  of  much  interest  to 
several  of  the  southern  California  gas  utilities.  During  the  major  portion  of  the 
year  there  exists  an  abundance  of  natural  gas,  more  than  sufflcient  to  provide  for 
mixing  requirements.  In  this  period,  the  artificial  gas  portion  of  the  commercial 
mixture  may  be  manufactured  by  'reforming'  natural  gas  rather  than  by  producing 
this  gas  from  oil,  which  is  vastly  more  efficient  thermally  than  is  the  oil  gas  process. 
In  addition  to  the  economy  on  a  heat  unit  basis,  there  is  a  further  saving  due  to 
the  somewhat  lower  price  of  natural  gas  as  compared  with  oil  upon  an  equivalent 
fuel  value.  In  view  of  these  efficiencies  and  econorrues,  it  has  been  the  regular 
practice  of  the  two  utilities  in  Los  Angeles  since  about  1917  to  manufacture  as  much 
as  possible  of  the  required  volume  of  artificial  gas  by  reforming.  This  economy  is, 
of  course,  recognized  by  the  Railroad  Commission,  and  present  gas  rates  reflect  the 
benefit  to  the  consumer. 

"The  reforming  process  is  carried  on  in  the  regular  type  of  straight  shot  oil  gas 
generator,  without  any  important  change  whatsoever  in  construction.  The  operation 
of  the  generator  is  practically  the  same  as  for  oil  gas  production,  and  it  is  therefore 
possible  to  change  from  oil  to  natural  gas  at  any  time,  according  to  the  local  require- 
ments of  the  natural  gas  supply. 

"In  this  process  the  methane  and  ethane  are  partially  decomposed  into  carbon 
and  hydrogen,  with  an  accompanying  increase  of  volume  and  reduction  in  heat  value 
per  cubic  foot.  The  extent  of  the  decomposition  of  the  natural  gas  varies  with  the 
generator  temperature  and  the  time  of  contact  of  the  gas  with  the  hot  brickwork. 
Therefore,  with  constant  temperatures  within  the  normal  operating  range  of  the 
generator,  the  quality  of  the  reformed  gas  made  varies  with  the  rate  of  introduction 
of  natural  gas  into  the  machine  ;  further,  the  capacity  of  the  machine  increases  with 
the  higher  B.t.u.  quality,  as  the  nattiral  gas  is  injected  at  a  higher  rate  per  hour 
to  obtain  a  shorter  period  of  contact  with  hot  brickwork,  and  a  correspondingly 
lesser  decomposition. 

"The  primary  decomposition  of  the  nattiral  gas  on  contact  with  the  hot  brickwork 
is  tlie  breaking  down  the  ethane  (CeHe)  which  is  less  stable  chemically  than 
methane.    This  is  indicated  by  analysis  of  reformed  gases  which  are  entirely  lacking 


^  Brown,  C.  C,  Natural  gas  in  California :  Rep.  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Sup.,  Cali- 
fornia State  Mining  Bureau,  Vol.  11,  No.  9,  pp.  8-28.  Mar.  1926. 

=  Masser,  H.  L.,  Rep.  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Sup.,  VoL  8  No.  9,  Mar.  1923.  See  also 
Cal.  State  Min.  Bur.  Bulletin  93. 

2 — 47S1S 


18  MINERAI.    INDUSTRY    OT    CALIFORNIA. 

in  ethane,  while  metliane  is  still  present  in  large  percentages.  While  ethane  is  the 
less  stable  of  the  two  hydrocarbons,  it  refjuii'e.s  a  greater  amount  of  heat  to  com- 
pletely decompose  it.  However,  the  decomposition  doubtless  proceeds  in  two  stages. 
first  forming  methane,  which  is  then  subject  to  decomposition  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  other  methane  originally  i^rosent  in  the  gas. 

"At  such  times  as  there  is  not  siifficieiit  availalile  natural  gas  for  reforming 
purposes,  the  process  of  oil  gas  manufacture  is  resorted  to.  The  oil  or  gas  is  then 
enriched  with  natural  gas  to  bring  the  mixture  up  to  the  required  850  B.t.u.  quality." 

Production   and   Value. 

Tliere  is  rather  a  wide  variation  in  prices  quoted  for  natural  ^as 
because  a  considerable  part  is  used  directly  in  the  field  for  driving 
ijas  eno:ines  and  firing  boilers,  and  is  therefore  not  measured  nor  sold. 
Such  companies  as  have  placed  a  valuation  on  the  gas  that  was  thus 
used  in  192")  gave  from  2^  to  25^''  per  1000  cu.  ft.,  at  the  well. 
From  the  totals  sliown  in  the  tabulation  folloAving  herein,  the  average 
value  for  all  fields  in  1925  works  out  at  approximately  8.2^.  Approxi- 
mately 7000  cu.  ft.  of  gas  is  equal  to  one  barrel  of  oil  in  heating 
value,  and  is  so  accounted  for  by  many  operators.  In  driving  gas 
engines,  about  4000  cu.  ft.  per  24  hr.  are  consumed  by  a  25-h.p.  engine, 
and  63,700  cu.  ft.  per  day  for  heating  a  70-h.p.  steam  boiler,  which 
figures  have  been  utilized  in  compiling  this  report,  in  tho.se  cases  where 
gas  was  not  metered. 

Natural  Gas  'Consumed,'  or  Utilized  for  Fuel,   1925. 

County.  M  cu.  ft.  Value. 

Fresno     1,515,889  $116,711 

Kern    45,649.845  2,290,608 

Kings     740  440 

Los    Angeles    98,226,700  8,704,894 

Orange    2<;.. 324, 309  2,324,014 

Santa  Barbara 2,545,208  248,708 

Tulare 280  175 

Ventura    20,144,646  1,953,163 

Butte,     Humboldt,    Lake,     Mendocino,     Sacramento,     San 

Joaquin,    San    Luis    Obispo,    San    Mateo,    Santa    Clara, 

Sutter,   Yuba* 312,247  251,369 


Totals 194,719,924  ?15, 890,082 

*  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

The  above  totals  for  1925  compare  with  209,921,596  M  cu.  ft.,  valued 
at  $15,153,140  in  1924.  The  only  important  increase  in  quantity  in 
1925  was  made  bv  Ventura  Coimtv,  which  shows  20,144,646  M  cu.  ft., 
worth  $1,953,163^8  against  5,995,760  M  cu.  ft.  and  $633,352  in  1924. 
This  was  due  to  exploitation  of  deeper  oil  sands  in  the  Ventura  field. 
Fresno  County  showed  a  slight  increase,  Los  Angeles,  Orange,  and 
Kern  counties,  in  tlie  order  named,  utilized  .somewhat  smaller  quantities 
of  natural  gas;  but,  witli  the  exception  of  Los  Angeles,  there  was  a 
larger  recovery  of  natural-gas  gasoline  from  tlie  gas  treated. 

Natural   Gas   Production   in   California,  Since  1888. 

The  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  by  years  since  1888  is 
given  in  the  following  table.  The  first  economic  use  of  natural  gas  in 
California  was  from  the  famous  Court  House  well  at  Stockton,  bored 
in  1854-1858.  Beginning  about  1883  and  for  several  succeeding  years, 
a  number  of  gas  wells  were  brought  in  around  Stockton.  Natural  gas 
was  known  in  a  number  of  other  localities,  and  occasionally  utilized  in 
a  small  way,  notably  at  Kelseyville  in  Lake  County,  and  in  Humboldt 
County  near  Petrolia  and  Eureka,  but  there  are  no  available  authentic 


isooaooo 

/■f.OOO.OOO 

a.ooo.ooo 

fS,000.000 

/ 

' r 

1 
— 1- 
— /— 
—t— 
—I — 
-f — 

-/ 

' 

^ 

/ 

— r 

— J— 

-^ — 

f 

1 

\ 

4 

A 

-\ 

\ 
— \ 

\ 

—s— 

u 

— V- 

\ — \- 

\r 

\ 

U^ 

^^ 

H 

PLATE  X. 

CALIFORNIA  OIL  FIELDS 
TOTAL  MONTHLY  PRODUCTION  CASING- HEAD  GAS.  Mcf. 

Acco/npsn/f/7^  ^pori    ^  CC  Brotvn 

— 

.,.000.000 

. 

^^^ 

7^^ 

. :5-^^ 

— 1 

' 

/ 

/ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

/(J 

\ 

\ 

^i— 

■■— 

*■->• 

■h 

/. 

\ 

S. 

N 

\ 

-i'/— 

'? 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

/  / 

V 

^-^ 

; 

/ 

\    / 

\ 

\ 

\/ 

f 

\ 

X 

\ 

X 

X 

\ 

/^, 

\ 

\ 

/      , 

'      \ 

\ 

V 

\ 

/ 

^^ 

\ 

\ 

^r" 

/ 

V 

\ 

"^ 

/ 

/ 

.^ 

"^. 

^- 

.^^ 

' 

\ 

4.000000 

^  -^ 

/ 

\ 

i. 

^v^ 

^ — 

^^ 

^-^- 

, 

1 



-=T^ 

i.^-- 

"  " 

■:^L^ . 

=^r7^  ^<a?«r>^ 

^-^ 

3.000,000 

: 

^^ 

^ 

-^ — 

r^j;^. 

,• 

M/^fSj^ 

—v^ 

T-^ 

_  -^ 

^. — 

^-^ 

. 

/imnay-''^ 

- — - 

— 

— -^ 

-— 

=:i 



^^ 

-//^^■/titW _  ^ ^^ 

MietKgy^ 

^ 

^ 

^^^^ ^ 

:^ 

--^ 

■-. 

=Sw^/% 

^A.^^.^ 

\<if>^ 

__, 

v^— 

^_^ 

—*?£..- 

^ 

.t^-fnc^fs 

«*«?■ 

• 

1000.000 

----- 







— - 

e) 

t.tfL'C^- 

^ • 

"—J 

' 

-• 

-iW^ 

^^^"^ 

^==1^ 

-'".  *'■?- 

'"^T^, 

~^^ 

-- 

— 

s-== 

-V 

h^ 

^s?^ 

^^ ^ 

f5^ 

ws 

sstes 

0 

1     ^ 

^ 

^ 

^ 

192 

^             1 

3 

ur3 

\    \ 

1 

\ 

\' 

■— 

•                 5 

1 

^                !>                1                 1                ^                1                ^                 1                 1                 ,«                ^                 ^                 ^^                1                1                t" 

1924-                                                                                                                                 1925 

1    -  »„afMfo/r  sesd/r             1                1     

r    ;i    ^    1    ^    .^    ^    J 

1926 

36.00O000 

3*000000 

30000000 
XOOOOOO 

h 

= — 

^ 

^ 

= 

h 

fLATEUI. 

SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA 

MONTHLY  PRODUCTION  and  UTILIZATION 

OF  NATURAL  &AS 

A  .    TOTAL  DOtfSST/C    SAL£S 

S'     TOTAL   DOM£ST!C    SALES   PLUS   TOTAL   /I^OUST^'AL   SALES 

/ — 

^ 

^ccompi/fyf/y   ^ponl    by  CC  SroivTT 

V— 



\ 

/ 

\ 

/ 

\ 

h     / 

\ 

/ 

-/- 

^^ 

/ 

X 

/ 

\ 

/ 

•v 

f 

/ 

3^^ 

^^^ 



^sizz 

^^^~-s. 



:^^^ 

/epoo.ooo 

^^ 

/ 

^ 

^v^ 



—^^^"-^ 

^^ — 

^ 

^ 

^^ 

/ 

— 7^ 

\ 

^"■^ — 

^ 

^^ 

^'*'--»~. 

,0000000 

^ 

V 

s— 





, 

_ 

■-— *• 



^ 

z=: 



->^ 

s:::;; 

—^ 



■ 

=— - 

s;^ 



"" 



-==-- 

.00.000 

-= 









!!r= 

=  — — 

-r— 

^— 

1^---^ 

::= 

— ^ 

=^^^ 

■ ^ 

A 





^^^ 

^ 

"^ 

— 

^ 

— 

■^^ 

=^ 

"== 

EZE 

— 

^- 

-; 

-^ 

-^ 



~    g- 



'~''°^~' 

.- 

u 

"""""■ 

^rt — 

■^"^^ 

1 

— 

^'^ 

^ 

^^^ 

^•^rrf 







=^ 

^^= 

^=-r 

■^^ 

\ 

^         ^          .^         ^         1         t         1-         1         ^          1          S          ^         ?          ^          ,^         1         1          t         1-         1         5          1          S          ,S          1          ^          ^          1         1          f         ^^         ^         ^          1          «     P          ^         ^ 
1923                                                                                                                  1924.                                                                                                                    1925                                                                      '926 

STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


19 


ecords  of  amounts  or  values  previous  to  the  year  1888.  The  most 
important  developments  in  the  commercial  production  of  natural  gas 
have  been  coincident  with  developments  in  the  oil  fields,  by  utilizing 
the  casing-head  gas  as  well  as  that  from  dry-gas  wells. 


Year                 M  cubic  feet 

Value 

Year 

M  cubjc  feet          Value 

1888 •12,000 

1889 •14,500 

1890 Ml,250 

1891 '39,000 

1892          .                         "75000 

$10,000 
12,680 
33,000 
30,000 
55,000 
68,500 
79,072 

112,000 

111,457 
62,657 
74.424 
95,000 
34,578 
92,034 
99,443 
75,237 
91,035 

109  47Q 

1908 '            842.8&3           $474,584 

1909 1,148,467             616,932 

1910 10,579,933          1,676,367 

1911 '5,000,000            491,859 

1912                            «i9Rnnfvin            QinnvR 

1893 '84,000 

1894 '  "85,080 

1895 '"110,800 

1896 '"131,100 

1897 '71,300 

1898 '111,165 

1899 115,110 

1900 40,566 

1901 120,800 

1902 120,968 

1903 120,134 

1904 144,437 

1905 148,a45 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924    

1925 

14.210,836          1.053.292 

16,529,963          1,049,470 

21,992,892          1,706,480 

28,134,365          2,871,751 

44,343,020          2,964,922 

46,373,052          3,289,524 

52,173,503  I       4,041,217 

58,567,772          3,898,286 

67,043,797          4,704,678 

103,628,027          6,990,030 

240,405,397        15,661,433 

209,021,596         15,890,082 

194,719,924    ^       15,890,082 

1906.     .           __              168175             inc'dsal 

Totals    

1907    _               169  991 

114,759 

1,130,139,148  [    $84,936,967 

'Quantity,  in  part,  estimated,  where  values  only  were  reported. 
"Includes  natural  CO2  from  a  mine  in  Santa  Clara  Coimty. 

Gasoline  from   Natural   Gas. 

More  or  less  gas  usually  accompanies  the  petroleum  in  the  oil  fields, 
iiud  such  gas  carries  varying  amounts  of  gasoline.  A  total  of  168  plants 
by  8:3  operating  companies  or  individuals  were  in  operation  in  1925 
recovering  gasoline  by  compression  or  absori^tion  from  this  'casing- 
head'  gas.  After  the  gasoline  is  extracted  the  remaining  'dry  gas'  so 
far  as  practicable  is  taken  into  pipe  lines,  by  which  it  is  distributed  to 
consumers,  both  domestic  and  commercial. 

In  certain  of  the  oil  fields,  some  of  the  casing-head  gasoline  is 
obtained  as  an  incidental  product  to  the  compressing  of  the  natural 
gas  preliminary  to  its  transmission  to  consuming  centers  through  the 
gas  pipe  lines.  Some  concerns  market  the  casing-head  gasoline  sepa- 
rately, others  blend  it  with  distillery  gasoline,  while  others  turn  it  into 
tlie  oil  pipe  lines  thus  mixing  this  high-gravity  gasoline  with  the  crude 
oil  for  transportation  to  the  refinery  where  it  is  later  regained.  A 
total  of  301,755,000  gallons  of  casing-head  gasoline  valued  at  $39,288,- 
500  from  all  fields  was  reported  as  made  during  1925,  compared  with 
228,781,000  gallons  valued  at  $22,269,955  by  82  operators  and  137 
l)bints  in  1924.     It  was  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows: 


Natural-Gas    Gasoline    Recovered, 
County  Xo.  plants 

Fresno 1 

Kern    44 

Los  Angeles 76 

Oranpe    29 

Santa   I'.arbara 4 

Ventura 9 

Totals 163 


1925. 

Galloyis 

Value 

587,000 

59,030.000 

177.920,000 

45,040,000 

6,891,000 

12,287,000 

$76,427 

7,685.706 

23.165.184 

5.864,208 

897,208 
1.599,767 

301.755,000 

$39,288,500 

20  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Tlu*  usual  recoveries  of  «i'as()liiie  froin  natural  <;as  vary  from  ^  ^al. 
1o  ;{  ^',i\.  per  1000  cu.  ft.  of  yas  handled,  the  averaoe  bein^  about  1  gal. 
per  1000  eu.  ft.  A  recent  report  by  Masliaw  &  Swanson^  p^ives  tln' 
average  recovery  for  1925  as  1.281  gallons  per  1000  cu.  ft.  of  gas 
treated.    Tlieir  figures  show  tlie  following  production,  by  methods: 

Natural-Gas   Gasoline   Production,   1925,   by   Methods. 

(Per  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines) 

Recovery 

Method.                                                                                        Gallons  (Gal.  per  M  cu.  ft.) 

Oil    absorption 176.059,197  1.117 

Compressor   6,718,091  1.369 

Combination  compressor  and  oil  absorption S6,l."i6,130  1.436 

Combination  oil  and  charcoal  absorption ,'23,307,540  1.539 

Drip    279,11::  

Totals 303,180,077  1.281 

PETROLEUM. 

B'lhliogmphy :  State  JNIineralogist  Reports  IV,  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII. 
Bulletins  3,  11,  16,  19,  31,  32,  63,  69,  73,  82,  84,  89.  Reports  of 
Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor  1915  to  date  (issued  in  monthlv  chapters 
since  April,  1919).  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bulletins  213,'  285,  309, 
317,  321,  322,  340,  357,  398,  406,  431,  471,  541,  581,  603,  621, 
623,  653,  691;  Prof.  Papers,  116,  117.  "American  Petroleum; 
Supply  and  Demand";  Amer.  Petr.  Inst.,  1925. 

The  crude  oil  production  of  California  for  1925  amounted  to  a  total 
of  232,492,147  barrels  of  clean  oil,  valued  at  $33{),6()9,829  at  tlie  well. 
This  total  of  quantitj'  is  compiled  from  the  monthly  production  reports 
tiled  by  the  operators  with  tlie  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  to  which 
have  been  added  figures  for  the  output  of  a  number  of  small  operators 
in  the  old  Los  Angeles  City  field  not  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Supervisor,  and  a  small  production  in  San  Mateo  County  wliich  was 
also  not  reported  to  that  office. 

The  question  of  the  value  of  the  crude  oil  yield  at  the  well  is  a 
dit^cult  one  to  settle  with  exactitude,  principally  because  a  large 
part  of  the  output  is  not  sold  until  after  refining.  The  large  refiners 
are  also  large  producers  of  crude  oil  which  tiiey  send  direct  from  well 
to  plant,  hence  much  of  the  crude  oil  is  not  sold  as  such.  The  values 
used  in  the  statistical  reports  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  since  1914 
have  been  derived  from  averages  of  actual  sales  of  crude  oil  of  all 
grades  in  each  field  of  the  state,  and  these  averages  applied  to  the 
total  jaeld  of  the  respective  fields.  This  we  feel  is  a  safer  measure 
of  commercial  values  than  market  quotations,  because  quotations  do  not 
always  mean  sales.  This  is  particularly  true  on  a  rising  or  a  falling 
market. 

A  comparison  of  the  sales  and  ({notations  averages  for  the  past  ten 
years  reveals  a  number  of  interesting  developments,  among  which  may 
be  noted  the  following :  On  a  rising  market  the  average  .sales  price  for 
the  year  will  be  lower  than  the  average  of  quotations ;  and  on  a  falling 
market  the  average  of  sales  will  be  higher  than  the  quotation  average. 
This  is  probably  due,  in  part  at  least,  to  sales  under  time  contracts. 

'  Mashaw,  J.  W.,  and  Swanson,  E.  B.,  Statistical  summary  of  the  California  petro- 
leum industry,  1925:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  1920,  p.  27. 


^ -L     Ucli  X  eift     lt^&»    III     liT^t*. 

production  of  oil  for  the  last  half  of  1925   was  8,911,782   barrels  more  than 
first   half.     TVater   production    decreased    1,760,012    barrels   during   the    same 


"  STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  21 

Features  of  1925. 

The  noteworthy  features  of  the  year  1925  in  the  oil  industry  of  Cali- 
fornia were  the  hiofher  prices  prevailing  and  the  increase  in  production 
due  to  the  newer  fields  of  Inglewood,  Eosecrans,  Dominguez,  and  Ven- 
tura, though  this  increase  Avas  partly  offset  by  the  increased  amount  of 
elosed-in  production  and  partly  by  decline  in  some  of  tlie  older  fields, 
particularly  Long  Beach. 

Summarizing  the  data  for  the  year,  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
A  isor^  presented  the  following  figures: 

"The  total  production  of  the  state  for  the  last  six  months  of  192.5  was  120,623,010 
barrels  of  oil  and  53,519,125  barrels  of  water.  The  production  of  oil  for  the  year 
1925  was,  therefore,  232,334.238  barrels,  an  increase  of  3,625,767  barrels  over  1924. 
Production  increased,  notwithstanding  that  the  amount  of  closed-in  production  in 
the  state  increased  during  the  latter  half  of  the  year.  The  increased  production  was 
principallv  from  four  fields  as  follows  : 

Increase  of  1925 

Field.  over  192Jf  production 

Inglewood    18,365,356  barrels 

Rosecrans    7,191,880  barrels 

Dominguez    6,767,640   barrels 

Ventura    5,182,597  barrels 

Total 37,507,473  barrels 

This  increase  was  partly  offset  by  the  increased  amount  of  closed-in  production,  and 
l)artlv  bv  decline  in  some  of  the  older  fields,  notably  Long  Beach,  which  produced 
19.527.931  barrels  less  in  1925. 

"The 
f.  T   the   fii 
periods. 

"The  estimated  closed-in  production  remained  constant  at  about  25,000  barrels 
daily  during  the  fii'st  five  months  of  the  year,  but  in  June  additional  production  from 
Elk  Hills  and  Midway-Sunset  was  closed  in,  and  the  amount  increased  steadily  in 
those  and  other  fields  to  60,454  barrels  daily  in  December. 


"Storage   and    Price   Changes. 

"The  total  crude  and  refined  petroleum  in  storage  in  Pacific  coast  territory  at  the 
end  of  1925  was  153,796,682  barrels,  according  to  the  American  Petroleum  Institute. 
The  increase  in  storage  during  the  year  amounted  to  28.774,718  barrels  compared 
with  an  increase  in  1924  of  S. 294, 522  barrels.  The  total  amount  of  crude  and  refined 
oil  .shipped  to  eastern  ports  during  1925  was  27,937,000  barrels  or  19,690,000  barrels 
.less  than  the  1924  shipments. 

"Prices  of  crude  averaged  higher  in  1925  than  in  1924.  The  prevailing  price  range 
of  .?1  to  $1.82  per  barrel  in  January  was  increased  in  February  to  a  range  of  $1.25 
to  $2.40  per  barr^-l  and  continued  at  that  level  until  September  21,  when  it  was 
reduced,  ranging  from  $0.90  to  $2.30  per  barrel.  A  further  reduction  was  made 
October  27  when  the  range  in  price  was  $0.75  to  $2.30,  affecting  only  the  heavier 
grades.     These  prices  continued  for  the  i-emainder  of  the  year. 

"Drilling   and    Development. 

■During  1925,  1359  wells  were  reported  to  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor  as 
r.  ady  to  drill,  as  compared  with  1352  new  wells  in  1924.  Of  the  total  number  107, 
or  8  per  cent,  were  wildcat  wells.  No  new  fields  of  importance  were  discovered,  but 
considerable  new  producing  area  was  added  by  extensions  of  the  Long  Beach  and 
Midwa>-  fields.  A  small  amount  of  oil  was  discovered  at  Seal  Beach,  Los  Angeles 
County  ;  in  Sonoma  County,  near  Petalum.-i  ;  and  in  Monterey  County,  southwest  of 
Salinas.  New  and  deeper  producing  horizons  were  discovered  in  the  Brea-Olinda, 
Sunset,   and  Cat  Canyon  fields." 

Outlook   for   1926. 

Figures  for  the  first  six  months  of  1926  indicate  a  slight  decline  in 
yield  for  the  current  year  compared  with  192').  Production  has 
dropped  to  around  610,000  barrels  per  day  from  the  192.")  average  of 
684.000  barrels  daily.  Effective  Marcli  Htli,  prices  were  advanced  for 
tlie  lighter  grades  of  crude  oil. 

'  Bush.  n.  D.,  Resum§  of  oil  field  operations  in  California  in  1925  :  Gal.  State  Min. 
Bur.,  11th  Ann.  Rep.  of  State  O.  and  G.  Super.  No.  8,  Feb.  1926,  pp.  5  and  6. 


22 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Production    Figures. 

The  following  table  gives  the  production  and  xaluc  by  counties  for 
1925,  compared  Avitli  tlie  1924  figures: 

TABLE  A. 
Production    and    Value  of   Crude    Oil,    by   Counties. 

192.',  1925 

County.                                               Barrels.  Value.  Barrels.  Vahic. 

Fresno     10,15G,inr)  $11,801,743  7,773,665  $8,503, S'.'n 

Kern    61,175,40.-.  69,572,934  58,852,742  84,255,0:' 1 

Los    Angeles    119,027,428  147,474,953  121,214,551  173,215,5:<:; 

Orange    31,6fil,283  37,455,298  32,734,420  46,384,67:; 

San    Luis    Obispo 31,222  30,972  29,590  32,lCt 

Santa  Barbara 2,905,181  3,009,768  2,647,380  2,419,70." 

Santa     Clara 14,417  20,481  13,828  22,5;m 

Ventura    3,958,010  5,279,985  9,221,846  15, 769,357 

San  Bernardino  and  San  Mateo_           ^4,120  6,740  '■4,125  7,25:t 

Totals 228,933,471     $274,652,874     232.492,147     $330,609,8- 

"  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

^  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  San  Bernardino  County. 

The  foregoing  totals  show  a  state  average  price  of  $1,422  per  bari-d 
for  the  year  1925,  as  compared  to  $1,200  in  1924  and  $0,923  in  192:;. 

TABLE    B. 
Average  Price  of  Oil   per   Barrel,   by  Counties,   1916-1925. 


County- 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

$0,545 
.423 
.629 
.512 

SO. 516 
.641 
.651 
.663 
.450 
.794 
,666 
1.045 

$0  825 

.893 

1.176 

1.003 

.926 

.808 

1.387 

1.318 

$1,191 
1  252 
1.340 
1.412 
.905 
1  235 
1,700 
1.480 

$1,293 
1,3.50 
1,380 
1.860 
1,040 
1,125 
1,600 
1,635 

$1,483 
1,714 

1  532 

2  1.38 
1,400 
1,575 
1,485 
2,507 

$1,068 
1,211 
1,403 
1.175 
.942 
1.011 
1.616 
1.785 

$1,710 
.819 
.971 
.880 
.600 
.782 
1  401 
1.138 

$1,162 
1.137 
1.239 
1.183 
.992 
1.036 
1  921 
1  334 

$1  094 

Kern 

Los  Angeles .. 

Orange 

San  Luis  Obispo 

1.432 
1.429 
1.417 
1  087 

Santa  Barbara 

Santa  Clara 

.611 
.666 
.855 

.914 
1  634 

Ventura     

1  710 

State  average 

$0,479 

SO. 636 

?0  908 

$1  278 

$1,409 

$1,726 

SI. 249 

$0  923 

SI  200 

11  422 

For  several  years  previous  to  1919,  the  state  average  value  per  barrel 
at  the  well  for  crude  oil  as  determined  by  the  .statistical  returns  w;is 
noted  to  practically  coincide  with  the  quotations  during  the  same  year.s 
for  23°  gravity  oil  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  fields.  In  1919  and 
since,  the  average  values  have  worked  out  at  figures  corresponding  to 
quotations  up  to,  in  one  year  as  high  as  28°  oil,  due  to  the  large  yield 
of  high-gravity  oils  from  the  new  fields  in  the  Los  Angeles-Orange 
counties  area. 


TOTAL  PETROLEUM  PRODUCTION  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  presence  of  oil  seepages  and  springs  in  Los  Angeles  and  Ventura 
counties  was  known  and  utilized  in  a  small  way  early  in  the  history  of 
California.  Some  also  was  shipped  to  refineries  at  San  Francisco 
from  Santa  Barbara  and  Humboldt  counties.  In  the  light  of  present- 
day  developments,  the  following  reference  to  the  previous  year's  pro- 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  23 

duetion  of  oil  and  its  future  prospects  as  expressed  by  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Bulletin  of  January  8,  1866,  is  strikingly  prophetic  even  though 
skeptical : 

"It  is  possible  tliat  tlie  small  quantity  received  (40,000  or  50,000  gallons  in  1865) 
may  be  the  forerunner  of  many  millions  which  will,  at  some  future  time,  lubricate 
the  wheels  of  commerce  and  set  a  trade  at  work  excelling  in  variety  any  that  has 
thus  far  been  known  on  this  coast.  At  present,  however,  we  admit  to  being  a  little 
skeptical  about  the  assumption  of  the  astute  Professor  Silliman  that  California  will 
be  found  to  have  more  oil  in  its  soil  than  all  the  whales  in  the  Pacific  Ocean." 

According  to  Hanks/  in  1874  production  amounted  to  36  bbl.  per 
day  from  natural  flows  in  Pico  Caiion  (Newhall),  and  at  Sulphur 
Mountain  (Ventura  County),  the  oil  being  of  32°  gravity  average. 

-  "Work  was  commenced  in  Pico  Canon  in  1875,  by  drilling  three  shallow  wells  with 
spring  pole,  all  of  which  yielded  oil  at  depths  of  from  90  to  250  feet.  Actual  work 
of  development  commenced  with  steam  machinery   in   1877." 

In  1877  Pico  averaged  40-50  bbl.  daily,  and  Ventura  80  bbl.  daily. 
In  1878,  there  was  some  production  ((a)  60  bbl.  per  day,  for  a  time) 
from  wells  in  Moody  Gulch,  near  Los  Gatos,  Santa  Clara  County,  the 
oil  being  of  46°  Baume. 

The  first  wells  in  the  Coalinga,  Fresno  County,  and  Summerland, 
Santa  Barbara  County,  fields  were  drilled  in  1890,  but  Coalinga  did 
not  make  its  influence  felt  conspicuously  on  the  state's  annual  output 
until  1903.  The  Summerland  yield  never  has  been  large.  The  Salt 
Lake  field  near  Los  Angeles  began  production  in  1894  and  in  1897 
reached  over  a  million  barrels  annually. 

In  the  Kern  County  fields,  the  first  well  was  drilled  in  Sunset  in 
1891,  Midway  in  1900,  McKittrick  in  1892,  Kern  River  in  1899.  The 
Sunset-Midway  district  attained  a  yield  of  over  4,000,000  bbl.  in  1909, 
and  over  20,000,000  bbl.  in  1910.  Kern  River  field  produced  over 
3,000,000  bbl.  in  1901. 

The  first  well  in  the  Santa  Maria-Lompoc  group,  Santa  Barbara 
County,  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  the  district  advanced  to  a  yield  of 
over  3,000,000  bbl.  annually  in  1905. 

The  Whittier-FuUerton  field  in  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties 
became  an  important  factor  in  1902.  The  Montebello  field,  Los 
Angeles  County,  was  the  conspicuous  addition  in  1918-1919 ;  and  Elk 
Hills,  Kern  County,  with  Huntington  Beach  and  Richfield,  Orange 
County,  in  1920.  In  1921,  the  new  fields  added  were  Long  Beach  and 
Santa  Fe  Springs,  Los  Angeles  County;  in  1922,  Torrance  field  in 
Los  Angeles  County,  and  Wheeler  Ridge  field  in  Kern  County ;  but  the 
production  from  the  large  number  of  new  wells  started  in  these  new 
Los  Angeles  County  fields  did  not  reach  its  peak  until  August  and 
September,  1923.  Dominguez  (Compton)  came  in  during  1923;  fol- 
lowed by  Rosecrans  and  Inglewood  in  1924.  Ventura  recorded  import- 
ant additions  to  its  producing  area  in  1925. 

The  effect  of  the  advent  of  these  various  fields  to  the  producing 
column  will  be  noted  in  the  tabulation  herewith,  by  years: 

•Hanks,  Henry  G.,  Report  IV  of  State  Mineralogist,  p.  298,  1884. 
'I4em,  p.  301. 


24 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


TABLE   C. 
Total    Petroleum    Production    in    California. 


Year 


Barrels 


Value 


Year 


Barrels 


Value 


To  and  inc.  1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1879 

1880 

1881 

1882 

1888 

1884 

1885 

1886 

1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898.. 

1899... 

1900- 

1901 


(a)  175.000 

12,000 

13,000 

15,227 

19,858 

40,552 

99,862 

128,636 

142,857 

262,000 

325,000 

(a)  377,145 

678,572 

690,333 

303,220 

307,360 

323,600 

385,049 

470,179 

783,078 

1,245,339 

1,257.780 

1,911,569 

2,249,088 

2,677,875 

4,329,950 

7,710,315 


(b)  $472,500 

30,000 

29,250 

30,454 

39,716 

60,828 

124,828 

257,272 

285,714 

655,000 

750,750 

(b)  870,205 

1,357,144 

1 ,380,666 

368,048 

384,200 

401,264 

561,333 

608,092 

1,064,521 

1,000,235 

1,180,793 

1,918,269 

2,376,420 

2,660,793 

4,152,928 

2,961,102 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924...... 

1925 

Totals 


14 

24 

29 

34 

32 

40 

48 

58 

77 

84, 

89 

98 

102 

91 

90 

95 

99 

101 

103 

112 

138 

262 

228 

232 


,356,910 
,340,839 
,736,003 
,275,701 
,624,000 
311,171 
,306,910 
,191,723 
,697,568 
,648,157 
,689,250 
,494,532 
,881,907 
,146,620 
,262,557 
,396,309 
,731,177 
,182,962 
,377,361 
,599,860 
,468,222 
,875,690 
,933.471 
,492.147 


$4,692, 

7.313, 

8.317, 

9,007, 

9,2.38, 

16,783, 

26,566, 

32,398, 

37,689, 

40,552, 

41,868, 

48,578, 

47,487, 

43,503, 

57,421, 

86,976, 

127,459, 

142,610, 

178,394, 

203,138, 

173,381, 

242,731, 

274,652, 

330.609, 


189 

271 

809 

820 

020  ' 

943 

181 

187 

542 

088 

344 

014 

109 

837 

334 

209 

221 

563 

937 

225 

265 

309 

874 

829 


2,319,955,491 


$2,217,354,451 


"  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mln.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1886.  p.  440,  for  quantities  to  and  including  1886. 

''Values  have  been  estimated  for  the  years  to  and  including  1SS6,  after  consulting 
a  number  of  contemporaneous  publications,  including  the  Mining  &  Scientific  Press, 
Reports  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  and  U.  S.  Reports.  The  figures  for  1887  to  date 
are  from  records  of  the  State   Mining  Bureau. 

Well  Data. 

The  following  table  is  compiled  from  the  monthly  .statements  issued 
l).y  the  American  Petroleum  Institute : 

TABLE    D. 
Well  Operations  by  Fields,  1925. 


Field 

Wells 
producing 
Dec, 1924 

Wells 
producing 
Dec,  1925 

Wells 

completed 

during 

year 

Daily 
initial 

OUtpilt 

Wells 

abandoned 

during 

year 

Barrels 
per  well 

produced 
per  dav 

Dec, 1921 

Barrels 
per  well 

produced 
per  dav 

Dec,  1925 

Kern  River. . 

2,158 

295 

2,940 

261 

316 

1,053 

13 

6 

301 

135 

566 

396 

178 

389 

231 

354 

160 

177 

298 

525 

510 

38 

17 

2 

1.599 
302 

2,906 
240 
291 
929 
22 
6 
251 
135 
591 
387 
189 
401 
209 
350 
163 
185 
335 
620 
603 
62 
113 
171 
9 

19 

4 

182 

28 
3 

20 

10 

936 

266 

51,795 

9,307 

95 

374 

788 

3 

6 

37 

4 

1 
6 
5 

8.3 

19.5 

36.2 

144.5 

15.6 

23.7 

68.0 

9  5 

24  8 

1.1 

20.6 

5.4 

11.0 

29  e 

88.0 

143.1 

109.3 

65.0 

140.8 

239.2 

88.1 

1,393.1 

449  3 

50.5 

11.836 

McKittrick 

5.577 

Midwav-Sunset-  .     . 

92,292 

Elk  Hills 

29,182 

Lost  Hills-Belridge 

4,204 

Coalinga         . 

18,646 

Wheeler  Ridge 

1,005 

57 

Santa  Maria-Lompoc 

9 

1,395 

5 

5,611 

128 

Ventura-Newhall 

45 

1 
7 
7 
3 

A 

8 
0 

42 
105 
111 
32 
113 
178 
8 

60,164 

890 

682 

5,755 

735 

1,114 

1,233 

3,610 

9,186 

35,160 

14,241 

29,680 

76,638 

202.4.'-.8 

467 

22 
35 
9 
2 
2 
31 
5 
■f 

!8 

63 

57 

8 

12 

15 

7 

122 

33.743 

1.914 

Whittier 

FuUerton  

2,008 
13,958 

Coyote 

17,033 

Santa  Fe  Springs.. 

49,950 
18.102 

Richfield 

13.357 

46,342 

108.986 

Torrance  (Redondo) 

31,515 

Dominguez  (Compton) 

24,951 

24,582 

Inglewood 

62,904 

73 

Totals 

11,319 

11,069 

948 

506,969 

479 

53.6 

020,958 

STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


25 


Specific   Gravity   of   Oils    Produced. 

The  proportion  of  heavy  and  light  oil  produced  in  the  various  fields 
is  sliowu  in  Table  E.  following:,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Standard  Oil  Company.  Under  present  practice,  oil  below  18°  Baume 
mciy  be  considered  as  largely  refinable  for  fuel  oil  and  lubricants,  while 
the  lighter  oils  yield  varying  amounts  of  the  higher  refined  products 
with  corresponding  proportions  of  residuum  and  fuel  oil.  Specific 
gravities  in  California  range  from  8°  Baume  in  the  Casmalia  field. 
Santa  Barbara  County,  to  56°  Baume  in  Ventura  County. 

California  crude  oils  are  all  essentially  of  asphalt  base,  with  a  few 
notable  exceptions.  In  the  following  localities  are  wells  yielding  crudes 
containing  both  asphalt  and  paraffine  constituents :  Oil  City  field,  Coal- 
inga;  a  few  deep  wells  in  East  Side  field,  Coalinga;  a  considerable 
part  of  the  Ventura  County  fields;  Western  Minerals  area,  south  of 
Maricopa ;  Wlieeler  Ridge,  Kern  County-. 


TABLE    E. 
Production    of   Light    and    Heavy   Oil,    by    Fields,   1925. 


Field 

Under  18° 
(barrels) 

18°  and  over 

(barrels) 

Total 

(barrels) 

Kern  River .         .._.      .     ..     

5.964.465 
428,420 
2.122.123 
10,934,105 
1.197.638 
3.877,777 

5,964,465 

Lost  Hills-Belridge _.  -...  ... 

1,325,811 

1,754,231 

McKittrick          .       . 

2,122,123 

Midwav-Sunset_ _  , .  ._ 

26,034,648 

10,819,361 

3,915,981 

344,646 

36,968,753 

Elk  Hills 

12.016,999 

7  793,758 

Wheeler  Ridge i.  .  _._ 

344,646 

Watsonville 

23,725 
1,477,248 
41,790 
66,892 
723,035 
437,900 

23,725 

Santa  Maria i 

1,137,973 

2,615,221 

Siimmerland., _            __ ._     ._ 

41,790 

Ventura-Newhall 

9,211,247 
2,113 
23,081,856 
19,041,178 
15,473.392 
39,302,837 
10,248,055 
13,317.517 

7.187.319 

16,494,924 

7,302 

9,278,139 

725,148 

Whittier-Fullerton 

23,519,756 

Santa  Fe  Springs  .     ._  -.  _     __.     .. 

19,041,178 

Huntington  Beach . 

402,723 

822  919 

3.028.123 

30,762 

15,876.115 

40,12.=>,7.56 

Torrance 

Dominguez 

13.276,178 
13.348,279 

7  187  319 

1,851.705 
55.585 

18.346.629 

M  if  follaneous _.. 

62.887 

Totals 

33,486,935 

196,946,160 

230,433.095 

As  previously  noted  by  the  writer,^  a  decided  change  has  taken  place 
in  the  relative  proportions  of  light  and  heavy  crudes  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia .since  1910,  taking  18°  Baume  as  the  dividing  line.  This  subject 
has  also  been  covered  in  detail  and  with  charts,  by  Collom  and  Barnes. - 

A  marked  droj)  took  place  in  the  low-gravity  yield  from  1910  to  and 
including  1914.  From  1914,  it  remained  almost  stationary,  with  a 
sliglit  drop  in  1921,  wliile  tlie  liigh-gravity  yield  has  increased  at  a 
rapid  rate  since  1915.  The  proportions  have  been  reversed  from 
approximately  75%  low — 25%  high  in  1914  to  25%  low — 75%  high  in 
1921;  10%  low— 90%  high  in  1923;  and  14f.f  low— 86%  high  in  1924- 
1925. 

This  has  l)een  an  impoi'tant  factor  in  its  effect  upon  tlie  average 
price  per  barrel  of  the  state's  output  in  these  years,  as  well  as  its  effect 
upon  tlie  relative  situaticm  between  production  and  consumption.  It 
has  been  a  fortunate  development,  in  view  of  the  increased  demand  for 

'Bradley,  W.  W.,  Mineral  production  of  California  in  1921:  Cal.  State  Min.  Bur., 
Report  XVIII,  p.  442,  Sept.  1922. 

-  Collom.  R.  E.,  and  Barne.^i,  R.  M.,  California  oil  production  and  reserves :  Cal. 
State  Mm.  Bur.,  Ninth  Ann.  Rep.  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  Aug.,  1923,  pp.  5-23. 


^^  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

refinery  products  (gasoline  in  particular),  and  a  lessened  demand  for 
fuel  od  during  ] 919-1922  at  least,  owing  in  part  to  tlie  sliutting  down 
of  the  Avestern  copper  smelters  wliicli  are  large  consumers  of  Cafiforni;! 
fuel  oil. 

Oil  in  'Storage.' 

Field,  refinery,  j)i])c-liiK-,  and  Ifink-farm  stocks  of  crude  and  refinery 
products  in  Pacific  Coast  territory  totaled  lo:],79r),f)82  barrels,^  Deceni- 
ber  31,  1925,  compared  with  125,021,964  barrels  on  December'.31,  1924 
distributed  as  follows:  '  ' 

„.    ^,  ^                                                                                             Dec.  31, 1925  Dec.  31, 192^ 

Stocks                                                                                              (.barrels)  (barrels) 

Heavy    Crude,    heavier    than    20°    A.P.I.,    including    all 

grades  of  fuel S2  849  057  ^7  2'^i  7q« 

g|fi»aWe  Crude,  20°  A.P.L,  and  lighter IZZ::::   44;345;837  40:574,578 

N^phthl  D"ist"iTra"ter:::::::::::::::::":  ■^eililsl         ^q'^qfi'R?? 

All  other  stocks 1-,:":::::::::::  tjicAi  iMt:\ll 

Totals,  all  stocks 153,795,682  125,021,964 

Operating    Data. 

Tile  following  tabulation  (Talilc  F)  is  compiled  from  data  published 
by  the  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas,-  semiannually,  and  here  com- 
bined to  show  the  entire  year's  operations  for  all  field's.  The  districts 
are  the  geographical  subdivisions  as  administered  by  the  Department, 
and  W'hich  are  outlined  on  the  accompanying  map. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  state  average  yield  of  oil  per  well  per  day 
was  58.9  barrels  for  the  first  .six  months  of  1925  and  64.1  barrels  for 
the  second.  This  is  somewhat  higher  than  the  figure  of  56.1  barrels 
average  for  December  derived  from  American  Petroleum  Institute 
data  as  shown  in  Table  D,  on  a  preceding  page,  due  in  part  at  least, 
to  the  fact  that  the  latter  is  on  a  full-time  basis,  whereas  tl.e  Bureau 
figures  allow  for  shut-down  time. 

'Standard  Oil  BuUetin.  February,  1926,  p.   13. 

=  Summary  of  operations,  California  Oil  Fields :  Cal.  State  Min.  Bur..  Eleventh 
Ann.   Rep.  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  Aug.,    1925,  pp.   6-7  ;   Feb.,   1926,  pp.    8-9. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


27 


I     MOODY  GULCH 
Z     SARGENT 

3  COALINGA 

4  DEVIL'S  DEN 

5  LOST  HILLS 

6  BELRIDGE 

7  MCKITTRICK-TEMBLOR 

8  MIDWAY-  SUNSET 

9  ELK  HILLS 

10  KERN   RIVER 

1 1  MT.  POSO 

12  ARROYO   GRANDE 

13  CASMALIA 

14  SANTA  MARIA 

15  CAT  CANYON 

16  LOMPOC 

17  SUMMERLAND 

18  VENTURA 
13     SANTA  PAULA 

20  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN 

21  OJAl 

22  SESPE 

23  PIRU 

24  BARDS DALE 

25  SIMI 

26  CONE JO 

27  NEWHALL 

2g    BEVERLY   HILLS 

29  SALT    LAKE 

30  LOS  ANGELES 

31  MONTEBELLO 

32  WHITTIER 

33  SANTA  FE  SPRINGS 

34  COYOTE   HILLS 

35  RICHFIELD 

36  BREA-OLINDA 

37  HUNTINGTON   BEACH 


38  LONG  BEACH 

39  TORRANCE 
4C  WHEELER  RIDGE 

41  DOMINGUEZ 

42  ROSECRANS 

43  INGLE  WOOD 

44  NEWPORT 

45  SEAL   BEACH 


< 


OUTLINE  MAP  OF  CALIFORNIA 

SHOWING  LOCATION    OF 

OIL  FIELDS  AND  DISTRICTS 


CALIFORNIA     STATE     MINING     BUREAU 

R.  D.  BUSH 

STATE.   OIL    et  GAS    SUPERVISOR 


28 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


o  ^  c  o 


l2^ 


^    »    O    fe 

C   P. 


00O:CVCiC>00CiOiO;«OOiCOOSC:0000 


00  iC  CO '-'  --I  c 


Ococ:>ooOOOiOOO:iOO 


lO'^i-iO'^iOCJOOCCOOOOOOC^IO'l^'^ 
■-t<  1— <  CC  C<1  "M  C")  »C  CD         '-'        "^  ei  -^         o% 


-^  ,-.  Xi  «—  ^  <M         ^ 


cC  CO  ^  »C  C-l  c:  <M  f-" 


J  «  »-i  -^  O  fM 


»o  rf  -*  --  QO  a;  c^»  —  o 
o'o  cj'-t  »c -f'oo'o'oo'  i 


:'-«oo«o»oO'—  c:>— cc  —  iocci 


i  .— .  T—  QO  C:  t^  '- GO 


•  ro  oo  t-" 
i  T—  QO  c: 


kOCOOOcDcOcOCiXSOOOOCNCKMiOOOC^ 


'-  «o  »C  —'  cc  »c  »o  *o  o 
5 1^  o  —  CI  1^  t^  cr-  5^ 


J  O  ^Cl  w  cs  c 


1^  <M  o  CO  •-'  -^  —« tr.  -— 


*  B  5 


a  o  c 


^|2  &« 


-os'*t<c-ooc;oooooo 


ic  c-i  QO  -^  r--  CO  1-* 


Ci  ^  cri  c:  I--  c 


T-H  OJ  C^  CO    C^ 


COt^OOOCiCr-OiiOdt-t^OCOiOO-^ 

1— '-^CDO'COO'— 'COCO-^OOOlCOCOr^"^ 
""iCjTtHCiCOCSl  " 

00  T-.  CO  <M  ^ 


COCOOlCjTtHCiCOCSl         COcD(Mr-t»^I>..— I 


t-'^CO'^C^OCOOOt— 


-^TjHOi'-HOsOli— lOSCOi-ti— 'OCOCOOilO 

^^'rt^(^^co'rt*TJ'oiooco^-^oooc^ooco<^^ 

■rt<  OOCO  CO  t^_<M_00_00_40  .--  t--._00_cD  »C  CO 


bco      »r3      cic^ . 


CO        r-H  coo:  <M 


5C^C3iaitCCOcOQOt^-- 


1  r^  o  oo  c^  CO  ' 

r  CO  oo  r^"  c^'  f— '  co' 


cOcD<r:c0^^c^:OCD»0 
coo-fTj'usoasiooo 
■rf_-^  -— lO  CO  oq  i^_o  lO 
r-'      r— ' .— '  co"  »o  d'  o"  o' 


;  CO  — i  -^  <— ■  c 


»0 '^  t-- O  ■—  en  r 


I-       QO  If:  oo  i^  00  CO 


-f<MCOOOCO<MiCtOTj* 


••T*-"ki;  <u  ^13  3:=; 

^ow^ffi  f^^o  2^_  ^ , 

*£  £  £;  o  o  3  w)g  o  £  g.o  g-  g  g_= 
5 


-F  rr^  ^  ""^  -S  5  ^      "o      Ti 


sd   -i 


o030Ce-ia!czia2t»>- 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


29 


«C  "M  Ca  O  O  O  iM  O  O 

t^  lO  »o  —  W-.  t^ 

C3  OS  CO  »0  CO  CO 

-J" 

CO 

■cj 

r*u3cooooooc;o 

O000o04000r-oci 

00  00  c:  01 C35  OS 

Cs 

C5 

C3 

'- 

• 

lOiOCCCOOiCCCCOCJi 

CC 

CO  ^00  000  (M 

CO 

00 

C3 

00 

■*  <M  O  C  O  O  =-.  O  <M 

<M  ^H                          «           — 

P» 

1 

iftcC^H^CC^O-^ClC^ 

00 

cot-  ocot^-^ 

1— ^^  00  0  t—  --< 

C5 

;^ 

-^ 

-jiirac;— ioo>racc^ 

MS         C         C-) 

^co      <Nco>ra 

(N 

c^ 

COOO^OOO-^CISSi^ 

oc 

.     0  CO  =  —.  00  1- 

0 

0 

S 

C:cO  0  ic*  CO 
0=(MOO  —  (MCO 
.-4  CO  --l*        C-l  CO 

c  c-i_o  ?;  —  .0  u?  ;£  55 

OC  ~  ^  —  —  -^ 
oc  -o  0  c^i^r^-^^ 

S 

s 

0 

CO  ^'  to               c-  r  —*  (m' 

oc 

1-  — 'cc'co'toco' 

<2 

"2 

^H 

•--^ 

t-1                           C-l        <M 

^ 

-r  CO  CO  10  oo 

»o 

CO 

9S 

CO      -r 

0 

"  1 

00 

11 

■<J*CCCOOOOOO»COO 

^ 

CO  -.0  00  —  »n  03 

Cl 

<M 

0 

.c  0  0  'O  0  .c 

co■r^^oo:cco;oc:o 

CO  oi  —  0  —  CO 

S 

oo_— _^,«  -r  cc  «  "v". 

t ^  (M  CO  CI  0 

CO 

0 

C:  '—  C.  .^  00  — 

co^c-i*    X*   cc^s'  — 

i-crfi-oo'jfcd' 

tc 

CO 

eo" 

00'  -*•'  ^'      00'  "i 

1— •  00  CO        f— 1         t--        O) 

0 

^r 

C»CO                     lO        » 

c^ 

«  oi  0  0  S  -. 

^\ 

CO 

CO 

CI 

'^' 

iOCq— '00' 

s 

CO 

§ 

cic^oo-^f-'ccr^c::''^ 

,^ 

0  —  cr.  -*  :ri  0 

CO 

■0 

■^ 

CI  =  -r  —  CJ  •:!- 

^H 1^  CO               0      cc 

=;  t-  ^  0  0  c^i 

2 

rl" 

•0 

c» 

0 

- 

cco-.  =  =  ot~oo 

CO 

0  »c  00  -^  c-j  ^ 

OJ 

^. 

CO 

il-iiii 

I,  2  >ca    '    ' 
£■5  m  0    i    ' 

^   :          1 

C^OcioO-*000<M 

CO 

cc  C'l  -*  »o  ;o  cc 

CO 

C4 

c^ 

C-.  =-.  00  •n  =  — .  i~  0  =3 

C5 

c» 

CS 

■.s  u  S  ^  g 

tO'3<l^»iMm  —  Ot3s 

•^ 

10  C:  ^  t^  ^  M 

■* 

«- 

<>J 

't'  -.O  —  C  — •  d  l~  0  (M 

00  00  C  t^  0  QO 

d 

g.S-.3_gia    ; 

CO 

-ff         iO  -.C  CI 

CO 

'"^ 

C^ 

£  2  Jf.S  3  J; 

t.it 

illl'l  "Ilii 

0  CO  -.C  -H  C-.  -.0  CO  --•  CI 

CO 

^-  r^  iM  cc  «:;  00 

0 

^ 

en 

''  — '^  g-KtSzZtSH 

2 

00  ic  00  0  t^  -st< 

T-i  -rf           CI  CC  0 

en 

s 

iO 

»c  0  0  c>i  ^  M  r-  cr.  »o 

C^l 

00  :c  00000  t- 

,., 

CO 

1  'J' 

S  S  f- 12  S  -  S 

COf*t^cOC30^^(MO 

r^  ^  CJ  '^  t^  C5 

■* 

CO 

1  0° 

T-^00^C5_CO  ^  IC  CZS^CO  CO 

>o 

c:;  in  -ri-  "^  ^^^ 

"* 

CJ_--          — 

coirfus               cm'wci* 

y-^ 

oo-'-o -^'(m'^oi 

CO 

h-" 

•0 

— ' 

rt                         C-1        c^ 

t^ 

<M 

§ 

CO      ■  T^ 

o_ 

1 

CO  -.0  iO  (»  i.'t  0  0  0  c 

_ 

CI  —  rc  »^  —  0 

0 

CO 

00 

=  0  ^  0  00  0  CO 

lOiCCOOO  —  CC^OCOO 

s 

<N 

CVI 

r^oc;coc;cct^co^ 

0 

in  CO  ^"^0  ^'^^ 

in— "— .'♦   00"      «'co"co" 

I  '^' 

r  -.'  -  i  3'  -jr'  -^'  -*•" 

ic" 

t~" 

— r 

cToocor-^csco 

0 

CC  X  ^  .£  z^t^ 

-* 

IM 

.— '  c»       »c 

-5*  CO                     10         • 

'*•_ 

CO 

03 

t~_ 

c» 

" 

cr  re  -^  00 

0" 

eo" 

S 

c-...p,--._-~:..-  - -T 

1    CO 

^-  00  cc  ro  Tj*  ^0 

10 

^ 

^ 

CI  ».0  t-  CO  iC  c.i  -f 

c;  !•-  c;  0  ■;2I  ^^ 

CO 

^ 

—      — 

1  •* 

0 

0 

CO 

1 

ci    ci" 

co" 

— r 

1 

■     •till 

is:^  —         'III!! 

0*"—        !)!!!!■ 

='  :  :  1  1  I 

ill        iiiiiii 

a  :  :  ;  :  1 

a  0  0. 

.0  a  "            ' 

**-       0         ''11 

>  1 1 , 1 1 

-a  0        '    ■    '    '    ' 

« , .  , , 

e  «  c        'ja    ; 

Q    '    '  k^    '    ' 

0  a—        '0              00 

yo  Grande 

nalia 

Canyon 

Moon  Bay 

poc 

dy  Gulch 

ent    

merland 

is 
e5 

1 

•0    ; 

0   a! 

si 

1 

-a 

a 

s 

0 

■0    C    '^   ...2    ,..£3      '      '    C     ' 

0  „  g  »=  g-g    .  ^(B    ; 
0  S.5cc~'.s  ^c.^  j;  i5  E 

13 

Q 

Q 

■q"' 

« 

' 

80 


MIXER  A  li    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNFA. 


Financial    and    Operating    Conditions    of    California    Oil    Fields,    1925. 

Financial  i-esults  oT  llio  oil  Ijusiiicss  during-  11)25  fire  shown  hy  tlie 
followinji"  tables.  'Plic  fcatni-cs  woiihy  (»r  men!  ion  nvv.  (1)  The  liiji'lier 
pricHi  received  for  the  year  as  sliow  n  l)y  the  state  average  of  all 
g-rades,  but  especially  the  lighter  f^-ravities.  (2)  Jncrijases  in  the  divi- 
dends paid  by  coiiijianies  operating  in  Los  Angeles  County,  and  in 
the  Kern  River  and  Midway  fields,  and  an  increase  in  the  state  total 
of  dividends  for  the  year.  (8)  Decreases  in  the  number  of  barrels 
])er  well  per  day  yield  (see  Table  I)  in  most  of  the  older  fields.  (4) 
Somewhat  higher  operating  costs  per  bari-el  in  most  of  the  fields. 

AVith  reference  to  Table  I,  it  should  b(^  noted  tliat  althougli  it  lacks 
data  from  the  larger  operators  who  have  refineries  and  Avitii  interests 
in  more  than  one  field,  yet  the  data  given  are  of  economic  value  and 
interest  in  that  they  indicate  the  conditions  prevailing  among  the 
smaller  companies  and  operators. 

Operating  cost  per  well  is  not  always  lower  for  tlie  dividend  com- 
panies than  others.  Profitable  operations  seem  to  depend  generally 
upon  large  wells,  high-grade  oil,  and  proximity  to  market.  Price  and 
profits  have  usually  been  greater  in  the  Los  Angeles-Orange- Ventura 
fields  than  in  others,  doubtless  largel.y  due  to  the  proximity  to  market 
and  higher  grades  of  oil.  Crude  oil  testing  as-  high  as  56°  Baume  is 
obtained  from  some  of  the  Ventura  wells. 

TABLE    G.      CAPITALIZATION. 


Field 


Number  of 
companies 
considered* 


Per  cent 
of  total 
product 
of  field 


Capital 


Cash 


Property 


Fresno  County — Coalinga 

Kern  County: 

Kern  River 

Midway 

Sunset  and  Maricopa -- 

McKittrick,  Lost  Hills,  Belridge,  Devils  Den,  Elk  Hills 

Los  Angeles  County 

Orange  County .-- 

Santa  Barbara  County 

Ventura  County 

Subtotals 

Miscellaneous  and  marketing  companies^ 

Totals,-. _ 


S2,329,181 

8,069,225 
4,852,681 
1,703,155 
3,025,038 
48,085,433 
5,042,395 
2,865,348 
2,100,167 


423 
92 


$78,072,623 
378,471,264 


515 


5456,543,887 


§20,704,399 

5,320,188 
40,003,673 
4,010,165 
3,232,748 
29.136,859 
11,204,504 
14,098,562 
14,958,883 


S142,669,981 
155,819,413 


$298,489,394 


*  See  Table  I,  following. 

»  Includes  companies  having  refineries,  and  those  operating  in  several  fields  whose  data  could  not  be  segregated 
to  counties  (jr  fields. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


31 


I'M^  o  —.  to  t^  r^  r^  .— 

Ci  -^ 

CO 

ci  -r  c-i  cx)  c^i  to  o  -f  :ri 

— . ".  =.  '^. '".  '^'  •*  =t^. 

»0  (M_ 

00 

1  ri  co'  c»  -jd'  c-i  -t'  oo'  c-f  -r' 

-^•'"ar 

CO* 

_3 

—  CO  t--  o  -o  -M  CO  r-  C5 

OOOOC-7  1^^-^----' 

O   'T^ 

■^ 

> 

**—■«"                   cT— " 

oo'co 

of 

s 

—  »o 

«^ 

w? 

Oi 

CO 

OOt^cCtOC^liCtOtO 

-rr- 

^ 

i| 

•^  c-i 

'^ 

oa 

iO(»0^t-tDO-<0 

—  CM 

CO 

!»  to  CO  05  C-.  — '  O  <M  >re 

tot^ 

Cl^  ^_  a=^  -^^  --^^  CT:^  0_  (M_  O 

>o_co_ 

C35 

_3 

a^  t^"  oo"  ci"  ■^'  ^  CO  c»  t^' 

o  o" 

o" 

cotoc-icooc^ioio  — 

r*  lO 

> 

c~i      >rt  1^  ire  C-)  CO  ^  1^ 

o 

S 

*^      CO       .-<*           co'cf 

of  of 

■ra' 

C^J 

T^  m 

CO 

^ 

«^ 

in 

COO^-COIOCO-^-^^ 

Tf  to 

o 

o'S 

^<MCO-H                     CO-H 

COCO 

o  g. 

•  r~  c;  .o  -  (M  O  1-  to  02 

o>o 

1(5 

i^  1^  ct  to  ^  _:r  oo  -r  — 

^ 

inlo 

--* 

lOOo" 

"^ 

"a 
> 

ocn 

O 

cOr^-^c^Ot-i^tbcxs 

CO 

»      <N-     ^-          o 

T-T-rf" 

lO" 

M 

Ci 

e^ 

^b 

to 

t^  CO  cr-  — '  '—  CO  r^  C^l  (>) 

(M  O 

o> 

i| 

'-' 

-^ 

o  g. 

a 

a> 

OtOiO'*C>-^i-<OiO 

O  -^ 

C7S 

n 

132  era 

00 

o 

(Mcoai.-^rfOtO^CO 

iO«5 

3 

co'  ^"  to"  to"  co"  I-"  <*"  c-i"  — r 

oTo" 

o" 

C3 
> 

Cicr.  ococo  —  o-*co 

oo  ■«  t^o;  t^  CO  CM  -rco 

—  o_ 

.-' 

o 

Sti. 

■o 

to 

OOOC^OiCt^tOOO 

>no 

■o 

E 

^■l 

CI  C-l  CO  ^  ^                 ^ 

o 

u 

oa 

o 

S 

t^^c'-ctO'Co^cao 

»o 

tOC^COif^CtcO— 'Olio 

t^  ^ 

t^t^iC^rJ-tcoJC)^ 

•a 

^ 

oi  o^ .—"  o  co"  o  of  of  »o' 

cfo" 

•o" 

£ 

'TCt^tO— COtOtOOi 

> 

'-^  CO  CO  35  to  *J<  CO  lO  CO 

—  oo 

o 

^"      -!t<"     cm"     — T     rt" 

co"io" 

of 

■* 

■a 

«^ 

5. 

o 

2 

OQ 

■*00-*00C0O=Ortrt 

o— < 

.-H 

e-S 

Q 

S  a 

I 

oa 

._^, 

-»  ici  ro  —  "C  <M  (M     t~ 

ira— . 

CO 

bJ 

cool 

_l 

o 

CO  to  oo  to  O  CO  c»     -^_ 

>raco 

QO 

CO 

9 

tCco"  to"  .-•*»-'"  of  oT   of 

in  of 

1^' 

f 

c3 
> 

criQOOSCTCO—  >o     00 

oi_r^  <^„^  oi  CO  »o    oi^ 

C~)0_ 

CO 

o 

^"            t--."            T^                             CO* 

co" 

<M 

««■ 

^ 

€^ 

CO 

ct  to  ot  ^  Ol  i^  »o    o 

OlO 

_ 

i"i 

Ol  Ol  CO  ^  ^               o» 

lO 

to 

r  -     rt 

^   O, 

,— 

,  ,  :  :^  ;  ;  ;  ; 

:;;;«:;;; 

,    !    1    ^.^    !    1    !    1 

:  ;■  ;  ;w  ;  :  ;  ; 

1    !    !    !  b'   !    1    1    ! 

,    i    .    .  V    1    .    <    . 

;  ;  :  :Q  ;  ;  ;  ; 

■    M 

;  i  ■&!  ;  i  i  ; 

I'S 

;    ;    ;:2Q    ;    ;    ;    ; 

;  '"^  ""  ;  ;  :  ' 

1  o. 

ii 

2 

!    !    1  5^=^    !    1    I    1 

;  ;  igW  ;  ;  :  ; 

P^ 

; :  il:^i  it: 

1  fc- 

[-a 

,  c 

:  ^  ;  Ti^^Q^  g 

"a  3 

-1  S 

-2S 

3 

o 

:=  c  £f"|-2i?-5<  = 

^"g 

H 

oiSii.xScc>*3o 

i 

32 


MINKllAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


oo 

OO^DcDI^eCOiOiO 

00 

o  r^  as  1^  CO  C3  .<f  -.o 

III 

d 

TOCOmC-J'J'iO  —  'J5 

oc  =  dd  =  oo' 

JL|^ 

o" 

1 

oo 

CO  C-l  —  T  -<<  CC  1^  -«• 

D, 

c"  ■-  >. 

C3i 

^Ci-7'O0-1*-1*^*^ 

s 

o 

■^^■§ 

O 

CI  -.O  1  -  IC  —  'I-  O  QO 
— .               lO  'O        CO 

o 

13 

^11 

ca 

■c 

•p 

S 

o 

CT  o  1^  ^  OO  o;  'j^  -<J< 

<o=:  >. 

CO  "O  00  —  00  d  CO  i~ 

"a;  S^  <^'C 

-«•  -H  c-l  —  C-.  -*  U2 

t  S'^'S 

1 

maa^ 

T3 

C 

-t* 

o  c-1  CI  o  -.o  ^r  CI  ci 

O  ^  05  -^  1-  7-  1^  CO 

C3 

•ES-t; 

-r 

o 

1 

o  " 

o 

cooooodo 

CliOOO^-— COOOkO 

§ 

=  S& 

>ra 

CO  CI  cr.  CO  -^  00  ^  'T 

•^s.^ 

s 

CO  00  1^  t^  CI  -.c  00  -f 
,-.               IC  »0  r-  CI 

S 

'a 

g 

%) 

c-^ 

COCOCOCOCIUSCOtP 

=3 

<o=3  >> 

lO 

oo-  0  0  0  CI  ci  lO 

•< 

Barrel 

per  we 

per  da 

yield 

_ 

•C  00  C  00  CI  ^  lO  l~ 

qT3   OJ 

13  a 

CD 

0  S  ^  2  ^'  5^  0  it 

ss 

£11 

-r 

i^o»ccoa>t^.^o 

en 

oocr-oooci-<.-H  — 

bc  fl-. 

o 

2| 

,_i 

,— i    t-.    .—    l— ■    — H    —    d    T-H 

1^? 

>  c. 

-ai 

p 

s 

!  0  CI  00  'i*  ^^  0  »o 
0  t^  CI  CO  CI  en  T-^ 

■a 

^^ 

>  :o  CO  ^  -7^  ^  »--  t^ 

C3  o 

So  s 

o 

t^OCiCDt^OCDU^ 

OO    D 

oo 

00  1^  CI  0  to  CT>  to  CO 

o 

00"-HO>-t~'- 

«— :— i^-.^— id  — 

e^ 

n3  rf 

CCQ 

P 

.,1=31.. 

;  ;  ;i3  1  ;  : 

!    1    I.M    1    1    ' 

:::€::: 

;    1    1  g"    I    ;    ; 

;  ;  ia  1  i  ; 

;  :  1-2  1  1  ; 

'''>'.'.'. 

...  a) 

;  ;  ;q  :  1  : 

!    !    !  oT  •    1    . 

,      .   bO     .      .      . 

'    '    '."2    '    '    ' 

2 

1    '    I^    •    '    • 

^ 

;     ;     ;PQ     ;     ;     ; 

:  1.2  ^i^"  1  3 

o  tt  3 

River 

ray 

;t  and  Mar 
ittrick,  Los 
geles  Coun 
County... 
Jarbara  Co 
a  ('nuntv__ 

g  §  c 

Kern 
Midv 
Sunsi 
McK 
08  An 
range 

cntur: 

ll 

►-lOcc> 

' 

-=  o 


O    o 

"  s 


3    C 


a  c 


Q.£     .eg 

,-S  d-^  '^ 

.11111 

>=:  ^--  =  o 

^■?*^  £ 

-2   ™    =!   3   O 
^   oof-,   O   5, 


CC  5 


;:2-JS 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  33 

Proved    Oil    Land. 

TJie.  total  proved  oil  land  of  the  state  iiici'ea.sed  to  121,4.")t)  acres,  as 
ii^'ainst  118.!)7!)  acres  in  1!)24.  Ol^  this  IU27)  total,  22,673  acres  bein<i: 
owned  by  federal,  state  and  city  jio^ernnients,  or  for  other  reasons,  is 
not  assessable  for  tlie  support  of  tlie  Department  of  Petroleum  and 
Gas  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  The  acreage  in  1925  was  distributed 
j  by  counties  as  follows : 

TABLE    J. 

Proved    Oil    Lands    and    Number   of    Wells,    1925. 

Land  Number 

County                                                                                                            (acres)  wells 

Frtsiio 14,G36  969 

Keni    76,398  .j,931 

•Lns  Angeles 11,239  2,807 

Orange    6,630  979 

'  San  Bernardino 1 

'  San  Lnis  Obispo 402  11 

San   Mateo 3 

.  Santa  Barbara 7,823  354 

Santa  Clara 80  9 

J  Ventura    4,228  571 

Totals 121,436  11,635 

Xot  including  the  old  Los  Angeles  City  field. 


3 — 47818 


34  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  THREE. 

METALS. 

liihJioqraphy :  Reports  of  State  ^lineralooist  T-XX I  (inc.).  Bulle- 
tins 5,  6/I8,  23,  27,  36,  50,  T)?,  76,  78,  85,  92,  95.  Spnrr  and 
Wonnser,  "JMarketiiifi'  of  ^Metals  and  ^lincrals. "  See  also  under 
eaeli  metal. 

The  total  value  of  metals  j)r()(luee(l  in  C^ilifornia  durinji'  1925  was 
Jf^24,4()3,794.  The  ehief  of  these  is,  and  always  has  been,  <i'<)ld,  followed 
in  1925  l)y  eopper,  silver,  zine,  lead,  ({uieksilver,  tunp'sten.  platimim 
;;ii(l  manji'anese  ore.  There  was  a  small  output  of  iron  ore  and  anti- 
mony. Tliere  was  no  production  of  arsenic,  cadmium,  molybdenum, 
nor  tin  which  have  in  the  past  been  on  the  active  list.  Deposits  of  ores 
of  nickel  and  vanadium  have  also  been  found  in  the  state ;  although 
there  has  yet  been  no  commercial  output  of  them.  The  above-noted 
total  for  this  ^-roup  is  a  net  increase  of  $4,395,020  over  the  1924  total? 
of  $24,008,774,  due  mainly  to  increases  registered  by  lead  and  zinc,  in 
spite  of  decreases  by  copper,  gold  and  silver. 

California  leads  all  states  in  the  Union  in  her  gold  production  ami 
is  credited  with  approximately  30%  of  the  nation's  yield  in  1925.  The 
precious  metal  is  widely  distributed  through  tlie  state.  Thirty-four  of 
the  fifty-eight  counties  reported  an  output  in  1925  from  either  mines  01 
dredges. 

Copper,  wliich  is  second  in  importance  among  the  metals  of  the: 
state,  occurs  in  the  follow- ing  general  districts:  the  Shasta  County  belt,! 
which  has  been  by  far  the  most  important;  the  Coast  Range  deposits,! 
extending  more  or  less  continuously  from  Del  Norte  in  the  north  to  San 
Luis  Obispo  County  in  the  south;  the  Sierra  Nevada  belt,  starting  in 
Plumas  and  running  in  a  general  southerly  and  southeasterly  direction 
through  the  Mother  Lode  counties  and  ending  in  Kern;  the  eastern 
belt  in  Mono  and  Inyo  counties ;  and  the  southern  belt,  in  San  Bernar- 
dino, Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties. 

Silver  is  not  generally  found  alone  in  the  state,  except  notably  in  the 
Rand  district,  San  Bernardino  County;  but  is  associated  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent  with  gold,  copper,  lead,  and  zinc. 

Quicksilver  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  state's  staple  prod-. 
ucts  and  California  has  supplied  approximately  75%  of  the  nation's 
output  of  this  metal. 

Tungsten  is  found  in  but  few  other  localities  of  importance  in  the 
United  States. 

Large  deposits  of  iron  ore  have  long  been  known  in  several  sections  of 
the  state,  but  for  various  economic  reasons  this  branch  of  the  mineral 
industrv  thus  far  has  made  only  slight  progress  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


35 


saouno   puy  JO  9puiosnoLU_U!  jaAiry 


~  -Ji  1/ 

Z  - 


-  3  w 

?  tics 


C  ft  CO 


_  ji2     "gmsj:; 


,^  S  2  -s 

O       O  bo 

C<H    O      I. 

S  o  t,  h 


%^^ 

Co    O)    O  tM 

.Q  O 
O  +^^  P. 

^  ,^  CO 
<D  *J  01   ™ 

Cg  rj    01 


suox  4-10149  u!  DujZ  puD'pe>9-|  'jadoloQ 


86 


MINi:i!Ah    INDUSTRY    OF    CAMFOHNMA. 


A   eoinj);iris(m   of  llic    l!)!^.")   luclfil   ((iitpiit    Avilli   llial    of  the   1!)2-1:   is 
afforded  by  the  following?  tabic: 


Sul)Stance 

1924 

1925 

Increa8e+ 

Decrease — 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

CopDcr 

Gold             

52,089,349  lbs. 

$6,823,704 

13.150,175 

398.751 

25,785 

36.452 

.543,080 

2,381.952 

446,009 

198,900 

3,966 

46,968,499  lbs. 

$6,669,527 

13.065,330 

639,661 

19,450 

39,937 

621,831 

2.119.765 

348.471 

877.542 

2,280 

$154,177 

84.84.V 

210.910+ 

6.335— 

3.485+ 

78.751+ 

2152. 187— 

97.538- 

678.642+ 

1.686— 

Lead... 

4,984.387  lbs. 
1,115  tons 

273  fine  oz. 
7,948  flasks 
3,555,153  fine  nz. 

781  tons 
3,060,000  lbs. 

7,352.722  lbs. 
832  tons 
292  fine  oz. 
7,683  flasks 
3,054.416  fine  oz. 

573  tons 
11,546,602  lbs. 

I'latiiium 

Tungsten  concentrates 

Zinc   .     

$24,008,774 

$24,403,794 

$395,011' 

'Includes  iron  ore  and  arsenic  in  1P24:  iron  ore  and  antimony  in  If  25 


ALUMINUM. 


Bihiioqraphy:  Report   XVIII,   p. 
Geoi.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 


198.     Bulletins  38,  67.     U.  S. 


To  date  there  has  been  no  commercial  production  of  aluminum  ore 
in  California.  Only  a  sing'le  authenticated  occurrence  of  bauxite  has 
til  us  far  been  noted  in  this  state,  being  in  Riverside  County,  southeast 
of  Corona,  but  as  yet  undeveloped. 

Minerals  containing  aluminum  are  abundant,  the  most  ^videly  dis- 
tributed being  the  clays.  There  are  only  two,  however,  thus  far  of 
consequence,  commercially,  in  the  production  of  the  metal:  bauxite  (to 
which  may  be  added  the  related  hydrated  oxides,  hydrargillite  and 
diaspore)  and  cryolite.  Cryolite  is  found  in  commercial  quantities 
only  in  South  C4reenland,  and  was  formerly  the  only  ore  of  aluminum 
used,  being  still  employed  as  a  flux  in  the  extraction  of  the  metal. 
Bauxite  has  been,  for  some  years,  the  most  important  source  of  alumi- 
num and  its  salts.  Its  color  varies  from  gray  to  red,  according  to  the 
amount  of  iron  present,  the  composition  ranging  usually  between  the 
following  limits:  AUO3,  30%-607c  ;  Fe^Og,  S%-25%  ;  SiO„  0.5%-20',  : 
TiOg,  0.0%-10%.  Besides  its  reduction  to  the  metal,  bauxite  is  also 
utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  aluminum  salts,  refractory  bricks,  alun- 
dum  (fused  alumina)  for  use  as  an  abrasive;  and  in  the  refining  of 
oil  (stated  to  be  of  great  importance).  The  most  important  pro- 
ducing countries,  both  of  bauxite  and  the  metal,  are  the  Ignited  States 
and  France,  the  former  yielding  more  tiian  60  per  cent  of  the  world's 
output.     In  191:)  France  led. 


ANTIMONY. 

Bihliography:   State  Mineralogist  Reports  VIII, 
XIV,  XV",  XVII.     Bulletin  38. 


X,   XII,   XI 11. 


Production  of  antimony  in  California  has  been  irregular,  and  small 
in  amount  except  during  1915-17  when  the  high  war-time  prices 
permitted  American  producers,  for  a  short  period,  to  compete  with 
Chinese  antimony.  The  principal  commercial  production  of  antimony 
in  California  has  come  from  Kern,  Invo  and  San  Benito  counties,  and 


■ 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


37 


I  other  occurrences  have  been  noted   in  Nevada,   Riverside  and   Santa 

Clara  counties.  Tlie  commonest  occurrence  is  in  the  form  of  the  sul- 
!  phide,   stibnite;  but  in  the  Kernville  and   Havilah  districts  in  Kern 

County  there  Avere  notable  deposits  of  the  native  metal,  beino*  amonj>' 
i  the  few  localities  of  tlie  world  wliere  native  antimony  has  been  found. 
;  ■    Californian   producers  claim   that   tliey   can   not   operate   profitably 

unless  the  price  of  antimony  be  above  12  cents  per  pound.  Present  New 
j  York  quotations  are  around  17  cents  per  pound,  owing  to  a  shortage  of 
j  the  metal  as  a  result  of  the  rioting  and  revolutionary  fighting  that  has 
j  been  going  on  in  China  for  the  past  two  years.  China  is  the  principal 
i  world  source  of  antimony.     As  a  consequence,  there  is  again  some 

revival  of  antimony  mining  in  California. 

Pure  antimony  metal  and  maunfactured  antimony  compounds  are  of 

considerable  importance  as  pigments  in  the  ceramic  industry.  The 
!  most  important  use  of  the  metal,  commercially,  is  in  various  alloys, 
I  particularly  type-metal    (with  tin  and  lead),   babbitt    (with  tin  and 

copper),  and  britannia  metal  (with  tin  and  copper). 

Antimony   Production   of  California,  by   Years. 

The  production  of  antimony  in  California  by  years  since  1887  has 
been  as  follows : 


Tear 


Toni 


Value 


1887 
11888 
!1889 
,  1893 
11894 

1 1895 

1 1896 
1897 

;  1898 
1 1899 


75 
100 


$15,500 
20,000 


50 
150 
33 
17 
20 
40 
75 


2.250 
6,000 
1,485 
2,320 
3,500 
1,200 
13,500 


Tear 


1900 
1901 
1902 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1925. 


T0I18 


Value 


$5,700 
8,350 


510 

1,015 

158 


35,666 
64,793 
18,786 


Totals i     2.363       $199,050 


■  I  'i.der  'I'napijortioned. 


ARSENIC. 


Blhli(>(/r(ipJni:  Report  XVI II.     Bulletin  67.     U.  S.  G.  S..  Min.  Pes. 
of  IT.  S. 

Arsenic  is  found  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California  in  tlie  min- 
eral arsenopyrite  (FeAsS),  which  is  frequently  gold  bearing;  aiul  in 
scorodite  (PeAs04-|-2H.O),  an  oxidation  product  of  arsenopyrite.  The 
occurrence  of  realgar  (AsS)  has  also  been  noted.  The  principal  source 
of  the  arsenic  of  commerce  in  the  United  States  has  been  as  a  by-product 
from  the  metallurgical  treatment  of  copper,  gold,  and  lead  ores.  It  is 
usually  recovered  in  the  form  of  the  tri-oxide,  or  'white  arsenic,'  for 
which  there  is  a  demand  for  the  preparation  of  insecticides,  for  use  in 
agriculture  and  horticulture,  and  especially  against  the  cotton-boll 
weevil  in  the  southern  states. 

Up  to  the  beginning  of  1924,  there  had  been  no  commercial  recovery 
of  arsenic  from  Californian  ores.  In  that  year  the  plant  of  the  Chip- 
nuni  Chenucal  Company  at  Bay  Point  began  the  preparation  of  arsenic 
compounds  from  Californian  ami  Nevadan  ores,  by  a  chemical  process, 
but  the  ])lant  burned  late  in  the  year  ■•lud  has  not  sinc(>  l)een  rebuilt. 


38  MINERAL    INDUSTKY    OK    CAMFOUNIA. 

BERYLLIUM. 

lUhlitxintpIni :  Eiig.   t^   Mill.   .lour. -Press,    \'(tl.   llS,    No.   8,   p.  285, 
Aug.  2;],  1924. 

l^eryllinm  is  a  metal  reseinbliiiji:  aliiiiiiiuun  closely  in  its  chemical 
cliaraeter,  and  lias  a  specific  gravity  of  2.7.  Several  alloys  liave  been 
prej^ared  experimentally,  of  -wliicli  copper-beryllium  has  received  the 
most  attention.  The  addition  of  v)'/(  beryllium  prochiees  a  golden-yellow 
alloy. 

The  comi)()unds  of  beryllium  a1  present  used  commercially  are  the 
nitrate  and  oxide.  The  nitrate  is  used  by  incandescent  mantle  manu- 
facturers to  harden  the  thorium  oxide  skeleton,  the  amount  varying 
from  2  gm.  to  5  gm.  per  kilogram  of  thorium  nitrate.  The  oxide  has 
been  added  to  materials  being  used  for  the  manufacture  of  abrasive 
compounds  and  in  dental  cements,  and  has  also  been  recommended  as  a 
condensing  agent  in  the  preparation  of  certain  esters.  It  is  stated  that 
this  latter  property  may  prove  of  ^-alue  to  manufacturers  of  synthetic 
])erfumes  and  essences.  Reryllium  sulphnte  lias  been  used  to  some 
extent  in  medical  research. 

There  are  a  number  of  beryllium  minerals,  but  none  have  been  found 
in  commercial  quantities,  except  beryl,  which  is  a  beryllium-aluminum 
silicate  carrying,  when  pure,  e57%  silica,  19','  alumina,  and  14%  beryl- 
lium oxide.  Beryl  suitable  for  commercial  purposes  should  carry  from 
10%  to  12%  beryllium  oxide.  The  ore  before  use  is  ground  to  pass 
90%-95%.  through  a  200-mesli  screen.  It  should  be  white  in  color,  free 
from  iron-bearing  minerals  and  metallic  iron.  The  price  varies  from  4^ 
to  5^^  per  pound  in  carload  lots,  according  to  demand  and  percentage 
of  beryllium  oxide.  The  chief  use  at  present  for  ground  beryl  is  as  an 
addition  to  porcelain  products,  wdiere  it  reduces  the  coefficient  of  expan- 
sion. Beryllium  metal  is  difficult  to  separate  from  aluminum.  For 
this  reason,  the  mineral  phenacite  (Be2Si04)  would  be  a  more  desirable 
source  for  the  metal,  and  it  carries  aproximately  45%  beryllium  oxide. 

Beryl  occurs  in  California  in  the  pegmatite  dikes  of  the  tourmaline 
gem  district  in  northern  San  Diego  and  southwestern  Riverside  coun- 
ties.   Thus  far  there  have  been  no  commercial  shipments  of  Ix^-yl  except  I 
for  gem  jnirposes  (the  pink  and  aquamarine  varieties.) 

BISMUTH. 
BibJiograpJijj:  Bulletins  38,  67.    Am.  Jour.  Sci.  1903,  Vol.  16. 

Several  bismuth  minerals  have  been  found  in  California,  notably 
native  bismuth  and  bismite  (the  ochre)  in  the  tourmaline  gem  district 
in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties  near  Pala.  Other  occurrences  of 
liismuth  minerals,  including  the  sulphide,  bismutliinite,  have  been  noted 
in  Inyo,  P^resno,  Nevada,  Tuolumne  and  ]\Iono  counties,  but  only  in 
small  quantities.  The  only  commercial  production  recorded  was  20 
tons  valued  at  $2,400,  in  1904,  and  credited  to  Riverside  County. 

In  1917,  a  few  pounds  of  bismuthinite  (BioSs)  Avith  associated  bis- 
mutite  (BioCOsH.O),  Avas  taken  out  at  the  United  Tungsten  Copper 
Mine,  in  the  Morongo  district,  San  Bernardino  County.  It  is  associated 
with  scheelite  in  a  contact  deposit  between  limestone  and  granite. 


STATISTICS   OF    AXXl'AL    PRODUCTIOX.  39 

I  Kecovery  of  ])isniuth  from  hlislei-  copper  in  the  electrolytic  refinery 
I  has  been  noted/  ranging  as  high  as  27. I^  pounds  of  metallic  bismuth 
i  per  100  tons  of  blister  copper  fi-om  the  Iron  Mountain,  Shasta  County, 
'  ores.  In  the  ITnited  States,  tlie  principal  recovery  of  bismuth  is 
;  obtained  as  a  by-product  from  the  refining  of  lead  bullion. 
I  The  uses  of  bismuth  are  somewluit  r(»stricted,  being  employed  princi- 
' pally  in  the  ]n-eparation  of  medicinal  salts,  and  in  low  melting-point 
o)-  cliche  alloys.  These  alloys  are  utilized  in  automatic  fire  sprinkler 
[systems,  in  electrical  fuses,  and  in  solders. 

I     Present  quotations  for  bismuth  are  around  $2.70  per  pound  for  the 
[refined  metal. 

CADMIUM. 

Bibliographu:  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  8.,  1908,  1918. 

During  1917  and  1918,  cadmium  ]iietal  was  recovered  by  the  elec- 
itrolytic  zinc  plant  of  the  ]\Iammoth  Copper  Company  in  Shasta  County. 
It  was  shipped  in  the  form  of  'sticks'  and  amounted  to  a  total  of 
several  thousand  pounds  for  the  two  years,  the  exact  figures  being 
c(mcealed  under  'Unapportioned.'  That  was  the  first,  and  thus  far 
the  only,  commercial  production  of  cadmium  recorded  from  Cali- 
fornian  ore.  Cadmium  there  occurs  associated  witli  zinc  sulphide, 
siihalerite,  probably  as  the  sulphide,  greenoekite.  Cadmium  also  occurs 
in  the  Cerro  Gordo  ^Mine,  Inyo  County,  associated  with  smithsonite 
(zinc  carbonate). 

There  are  several  cadmium  minerals,  but  none  of  them  occur  in 
.sufficient  quantities  individually  to  be  profitable  as  distinct  ores.  The 
cadmium  of  commerce  is  derived  as  a  by-product  in  the  reduction  of 
zinc  minerals  and  ores,  in  nearly  all  of  whicli  it  occurs  in  at  least  minute 
proportions,  the  ai'erage  ratio  being  about  1  of  cadmium  to  200  of  zinc. 
As  cadmium  behaves  metallurgically  much  the  same  as  zinc,  it  con- 
stitute-^ a  fraction  of  1  per  cent  of  nearly  all  metallic  zinc. 

Cadmium  is  produced  in  the  Fnited  States  in  two  forms — metallic 
cadmium  and  the  ])iiiinent,  cadmium  sulphide.  The  princii)al  use  of 
llie  metal  is  in  low-melting  point,  or  cliche  alloys,  and  its  salts  are 
utilized  in  the  arts,  medicine,  and  in  electroplating.  The  sulphide  is 
em])loyed  as  a  paint  pigment,  being  a  strong  yellow,  Avhicli  is  unaffected 
by  hydrogen  sulphide  gas  from  coal  smoke.  It  is  also  employed  in 
coloring  glass  and  porcelain.  Cadmium  cliche  metal  is  stated  to  be 
superior  to  tlie  corresponding  })ismuth  alloy,  for  making  .stereotype 
plates.  Cadmium  is  also  used  in  bronze  telegraph  and  telephone  wires. 
and  gives  some  promise  of  being  utilized  in  electroplating. 

Present  quotations  for  cadmium  are  60f  per  pound  for  the  refined 
metal. 

COBALT. 

Bil)U()(i)(ipliii:  Report  XIV.     Bulletin  67.     V.  S.  G.  S..  Min.  Res. 
of  U.  S.,  1912,  1918. 

Occurrences  of  sonu^  of  the  col)alt  minerals  have  been  noted  in 
several  localities  in  California,  but  to  date  no  commercial  production 
lias  resulted.  Some  of  the  copper  ores  of  tlie  foothill  coi)per  belt  in 
i^Iariposa  and  ^ladera  counties  have  been  found  to  contain  cobalt  up 
to  '^' ,  .     The  most   recent  and  notable  occurrence  thus  far   found   in 


'Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  Vol.   47,  pp.  217-218, 


40 


MINEKAIj    INDUSTUV    OF    CAI-irOUNIA. 


Ihis  state  is  in  the  iMar-Jolm  IMiiie  near  Sheep  Kaiicii,  Calaveras  County. 
Lenses  of  smaltite  (CoAs^)  liave  been  uncovered  in  the  vein,  there,  and 
several  tons  taken  out  in  the  course  of  development  work;  but  as  yet 3 
there  have  been  no  commercial  shipments. 

The  most  important  use  of  cobalt  is  in  tlie  manufacture  of  tlie  alloy, 
stellite,  in  which  it  is  combined  with  eliromium,  for  i!iakiu<?  hiirli-speed 
lathe  tools,  and  non-taruishiuji'  cutlery  and  sury-eons'  apj^liances.  The 
metal  is  also  used  in  electroplatin*;:,  similarly  to  nickel;  and  the  oxide, 
carboiuite,  chloride,  sulphate  and  other  salts  are  used  in  ceramics  for 
colorinji'.  Some  of  the  orp'anic  salts  of  cobalt  (acetate,  resinatc,  oleate) 
are  employed  as  'driers'  in  paint  and  varnish. 

Present  quotations  for  cobalt  are  $2.50  per  i)oun(l  for  the  refined 
metal. 

COPPER. 

Bihlio(/)(ip}i>j :  State     Mineralogist     Reports     VIll-XXII      (inc.). 
Bulletins  23,  50,  91. 

Copper  is  second  only  to  gold  among  the  metals  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia.   The  output  for  1925  amounted  to  a  total  of  46,968,499  pounds 


'  ^'T 

/I 

■iij 

;<.  ;J ..  Range 

'%  T    " 

f'^.—Averat 

je 

?(i 

-\    ^^ 

■'  '^  1- 

Zb 

;4 

24 

A. 

Prices  of 

T> 

"7/ 

Wi  re  BarSjIngot  Bars  < 

md  Cakes 

01 

y^ 

F.o.b.  Eastern  Seaboarc 

i Refinery 

•^n 

•^ 

1        1        1 

19 ' 

18 

a---. 

16-  ■- 
14- -J, 

1 

V 

:::  \\" 

'     1  • 

■ 

' 

^        ^  ^* 

^-1    ^ 

N 

*=f«B 

c^ 

^l 

-4--  ^t 

W^   1 

M 

s^E 

19-         - 

W 

'  ^ 

11 

-^  ji . 

rO      10      r-      CT>      —      rO      10 

— ■     —     —     —     c^rso)      5 

(T><r>cT>cr>    a    (Tt    cT>   \S, 


y>      *i 


>^         4- 
-3  O 


1915  1926 

From   Knginoering  and   ISUniiig  Journal-I'ress,   April    3,    lit2i;. 

of  recoverable  metal  valued  at  $6, 669, 527,  a  slight  decrease  from  the 
1924  figures  of  52,089, :}49  ])<)unds  and  $6,82:5,704.  Tiie  average  price 
for  1925  being  highei-   (14.2('-  against  lo.lf'  ])er  pound)   than   in  1924, 


STATISTICS   OF    AXXUAL    PKODUCTIOX.  41 

the  drop  in  total  value  Avas  not  as  great  in  proportion  as  tlie  decrease  in 
quantity.    The  averao;e  price  in  1928  Avas  l-t.7f  per  pound. 

As  for  several  years  past,  Plumas  County  ranked  first  for  15)2.") 
vitli  an  output  of  26,950.029  pounds;  Shasta  second,  with  14,560,967 
pounds ;  and  Calaveras  third,  with  4,906,650  pounds. 

Distribution  of  the  1925  copper  output,  by  counties,  was  as  follows : 

Copper  Production,   by  Counties,   1925. 
County  Pounds  Value 

Calaveras 4,906.650  $696,744 

Inyo 7:^,003  10,367 

Mono   1,020  145 

Pluma.s    26,950,029  3,826,904 

Riverside    23.134  3,285 

San    Bernardino 6,249  888 

Shasta 14,565,967  2,068,367 

Trinity    439,766  62,447 

Amador,  Butte,  Kern,  Lake,  Los  Angeles,  Nevada,  Orange, 

Placer*    2,681  380 


I 


Totals 46,968.499  ?6, 669, 527 

*Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  sing-le  operator  in  each. 

Copper    Production    of   the    United    States. 

According  to  preliminary  data  issued  by  the  V .  S.  l;>ureau  of  IMincs,' 
the  smelter  production  of  primary  copper  from  domestic  sources 
during  1925  amounted  to  1,674,869,886  pounds,  an  increase  of  approxi- 
mately 2^f .  The  value  of  smelter  production  increased  approximately 
11*^^  in  1925.  The  average  price  of  2,634,000,000  pounds  of  copper 
(lelivered  during  the  year,  as  reported  to  the  Bureau  by  .selling  agen- 
cies, was  14. 2f^  per  pound. 

"REFINED    COPPER. 

"The  total  production  of  new  refined  coppt-r  in  1925  was  2,205,000,000  pounds,  a 
lit  crease  of  55.000,000  pounds  over  tliat  in  l:i24. 

"Primary  and  secondary  copper  produced  Ijy  regular  refining  plants  and  imported. 
i:'24-1925.   in   pounds: 

"Primary  : 

Domestic :»  19'2<t  192r, 

Electrolytic    1,499,223.447  1,533.995.439 

Lake    1 145,333,227  138,029,764 

Casting 29,657,925  10,870,144 


1,674,214,599  1,682,895,347 
Foreign  :  = 

Electrolvtic    577,100,034  516,632,530 

Casting 8,761,377  5,045.947 


Refinery  production  of  new  copper 2.260.076,010  2,204,573,824 

Imports  of  refined  copper 145.909,968  99,773,546 

Total  new  refined  copper  made  available 2,405,985,978  2,304,347,370 

Secondarv : 

Electrolytic    104.281,430  140,340.541 

Casting 50,536,678  58,010.653 


154.818,108  198,360,194 

2,5()0,804,0S6  2,502,707,564 

=■  The  separation  of  refined  copper  into  metal  of  domestic  and  foreign  origin  is 
inily  approximate,  as  an  accurate  separation  of  the  amounts  at  this  stage  of  manu- 
facture is  not  possible. 

"In  addition  to  their  output  of  metallic  copper  the  regular  refining  companies 
luiiduced  bluestone  (hydrous  copper  sulphate)  having  a  copper  content  of  6,754,000 
pounds,  as  compared  with  5,766.000  pounds  in  1924. 

•  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines.  Press  Bulletin,  June  30,  192C. 


42 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


"STOCKS. 

Stocks   of  Copper,   January    1,    1921,    1922,    1923,    1924,    1925   and    1926,    in    Pounds. 

Blister  and 
Jx'rfincd  material  in  process 

Year.  cupper  of  refinino  ^ 

1921 659,000,000  465,000,000 

1922 45!). 000, 000  28:^,000,000 

1923 21<;, 000, 0(10  :501,000,000 

1924 264,000,000  432,000,000 

1925 243,000,000  393,000,000 

1926 ■ 124,000,000  432,000,000* 

"  Subject  to  revision.  •'  The  amounts  stated  in  the  last  column  in  the  table  above 
do  not  include  copper  in  stock  at  foreign  smelters  or  in  transit  from  foreign  smelters 
to  refineries  in  the  United  States." 


Copper   Production    of  California    by   Years. 

Altlioiifili  some  niiiiiiio-  of  copper  ores  in  a  small  way  had  been  done 
earlier,  shipments  in  appreciable  (piantities  began  in  1861  and  continued 
ol  importance  up  to  the  end  of  1867,  when  a  total  of  68,631  tons  (of 
2376  pounds)  of  high-grade  ores,  and  847  tons  of  matte  or  'regulus'^ 
had  been  .shipped  to  smelters  at  New  York,  Boston,  and  Swansea,  Wales. 
'I'he  most  important  district  at  that  time  was  Copperopolis  and  vicinity 
in  Calaveras  County,  with  some  shipments  also  made  from  Mariposa,  El 
]3orado,  Fresno,  and  San  Ijuis  Obispo  counties.  Prom  1868  to  1882. 
the  output  was  insignificant.  There  are  wide  discrepancies  in  the 
figures  currently  recorded  for  copper  production  previous  to  1882  in 
which  year  the  data  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  began.  The 
detailed  statistics  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau  began  in  the 
year  1894. 

Amount  and  value  of  copper  production  in  California  annually  since 
1882  is  given  in  the  following  tabulation: 


Tear 


1882  — 

1883  __. 

1884  -_. 

1885  .- 

1886  ... 

1887  .-. 

1888  ... 

1889  ... 

1890  ... 

1891  ... 

1892  ... 

1893  -- 

1894  ... 

1895  ... 


Pounds 


Value 


1897  , 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 


826,695  1 

$144,672 

1,600',862 

265,743 

876,166 

120,911 

469,028 

49,248 

430,210 

4a021 

1,600,000 

192,000 

1,570,021 

235,303 

151,505  ' 

18,180 

23,347 

3,502 

3,397,405 

424,675 

2,980,944  , 

342,808 

239,682 

21.571 

738,594  ; 

72,486 

225,650 

21,901 

1,992,844 

199,519 

13,638,626 

1,540,666 

21,543,229 

2,475,168 

23,915,486 

3,990,534 

29,515,512 

4,748,242 

34,931,788 

5,501,782 

27  860,162 

3.239.975 

19,113,861 

2,520,997 

29.974,154  i 

3,969,995 

Year 


Pounds 


Value 


1905 16.997.489 

1906 !  28.726.448 

1907 32,602,945 

1908 •  40,868,772 

1909 65,727,736 

1910 53,721,032 

1911 36,838,024 


1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924- 

1925. 


Totals. 


34,169,997 
34.471.118 
30.491,535 
40,968,966 
55,809,019 
48,534,611 
47,793,046 
22,162,605 
12.947.299 
12,088,053 
22,883,987 
28,346,860 
52.089.349 
46,968,499 


982,823,161 


$2,650,005 
5.522.712 
6,341,387 
5,350,777 
8,478,142 
6,680,641 
4,604,753 
5,638,049 
5,343,023 
4,055,375 
7,169,567 
13.729,017 
13,249,948 
11,805,883 
4,122.246 
2,382,303 
1,559.358 
3,090,582 
4.166,989 
6.823,704 
6.669,527 


$159,577,487 


Brown,  J.  Ross,  Mineral  Resources  wi-st  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  p.  168.  1867. 


STATISTICS   OF    AXXUAL    PRODUCTIOX. 


43 


GOLD. 

Bihliography:  State  Mineralop:ist  Reports  I  to  XXII  (inc.).    Bul- 
letins 36,  45,  57,  91.  92.    V.  S.  Geol.  Snrv.,  Prof.  Paper  73. 

Gold  was  the  first,  and,  for  nian\-  years,  the  most  important  sin^ie 
mineral  prodnct  of  California.  Altiiough  now  surpassed  for  a  number 
of  years  in  annual  value  by  petroleum,  and  by  cement  beginning  with 
1920,  it  still  heads  our  metal  list,  and  California  continues  to  outrank 
all  the  other  gold-producing  states  of  the  United  States,  including 
Alaska.  In  fact,  at  present,  Calif <)r)iia  is  producing  approximately 
^O'^r  of  the  gold  minetl  in  the  entire  United  States. 

While  there  is  some  renewal  of  activity  in  the  development  of  gold 
lode  properties,  it  has  not  yi't  become  reflected  in  an  increased  yield 
of  the  metal.  The  1925  figures  show  a  slight  decrease  fuom  the  1924 
yield,  but  i)ractically  liolding  its  own  the  past  three  years. 


I.orenz  Hydraulic  mine,  near  Weaverville,  Trinity  County.     Photo  by  C.  A.  Logan. 

The  production  of  gold  in  California  in  1925  totaled  632,035.31  fine 
ounces,  worth  $13,065,330,  being  a  decrease  of  4,104.41  fine  ounces  from 
Ihe  1924  yield.  This  was  divided,  $7,969,186  from  the  'deep'  or  lode 
mines,  and  $5,096,144  from  placers  (maiidy  by  the  dredgers).  As  the 
State  oMining  Bureau  has  never  independently  gathered  the  statistics 
of  gold  and  silver  production,  these  figures,  as  in  former  years,  are 
published  by  cooperation  with  and  through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  J.  M. 
Hill  of  the  Division  of  Minerals  and  Statistics,  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines. 

The  largest  gold  production  for  1925  is  reported  from  Yuba  County, 
^\  ith  an  output  of  124,354.23  fine  ounces  ($2,570,630)  ;  Amador  County, 
with  113,105.63  ounces  ($2,338,101),  was  second;  Nevada  County,  with 
111,533.74  ounces  ($2,305,607),  third;  followed  by  Sierra  and  Sacra- 
mento in  fourth  and  fifth  i)laces  respectively.  It  will  be  noted  that 
Yuba  County  regained  its  jilace  in  first  rank  which  it  surrendered  to 
Nevada    Couiitv    in    1924.      Tlie   Yuba    County    production    is   almost 


44 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


eiitifcly  from  (Iredjres,  Avliile  that  from  Nevada  County  is  mainly  lode 
fjold. 

J)isti"il»ut  ion  of  the  1!)2.")  <i'ol(l  prodncl  ion,  hy  connlics,  was  as  follows: 


Gold    Production,    by   Counties,    1925. 


Count}/.  Value. 

Alpine $21!) 

Amador     2.3.38,101 


Butte 
Calaveras  __ 
Del  Norte  __ 
Kl   Dorado   _ 

Pre.sno 

Humboldt 

liiyo 

Kern    

Las.sen 

Los  Angeles 

Madera 

Mariposa 

Merced 

Mono 

Monterej'    __ 
Napa 


355,289 

652,4:13 

681 

40.212 

25,056 

13,142 

43,774 

135,545 

1,130 

409 

2,366 

192,810 

2S9 

5,503 

998 

195 


County.  Value. 

Nevada ?2. 305, 607 

Orange    52 

I'lacer 121,785 

Plumas 249,540 

Riverside    3,687 

.Sacramento    1,302.320 

San  Bernardino 157,374 

San  Diego 5,134 

San  Luis  Obispo 840 

Siiasta 235,013 

Sierra    1,373,705 

Siskiyou    180,120 

Stanislaus 171.742 

Trinity    424,037 

Tuolumne 155.592 

Yuba   2,570,630 


Total  value $13,065,330 


The  following  is  quoted  from  the  advance  chapter  on  Gold  in  1925, 
by  courtesy  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Hill  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines : 

"The  value  of  gold  produced  in  California  in  1925  was  $13,065,330,  a  decrease  of 
0.65  per  cent  as  compared  with  1924.  Deep  mines  produced  61  per  cent  and  placer 
mines  39  per  cent  of  the  total  gold  in  1925  as  compared  with  65  per  cent  and  35 
per  cent  respectively,  in  1924. 

"Five  counties  produced  more  than  51,000,000  in  gold  in  1925.  Y'uba.  with 
$2,570,630  produced  largely  by  dredges,  was  first  in  rank;  Amador  with  $2,338,101 
almost  entirely  from  gold  quartz  mines,  was  .second:  Nevada  with  $2,305,607  from 
gold  Quartz  and  a  few  placer  mines,  was  third;  Sierra  with  $1,373,705  from  gold 
quartz  and  hydraulic  mines  was  fourth,  and  Sacramento  with  $1,302,320  entirely 
from  placer  mines,  was  fifth.  The  next  largest  production  of  gold,  $652,433,  came 
from  Calaveras  Coimty,  largely  from  gold  quartz  mines  and  one  dredge  operation, 
followed  by  Trinity  County  with  $424,037  largely  from  dredge  and  hydraulic 
placer  mines. 

"In  1925  there  were  41  companies  in  the  State  that  produced  in  excess  of  1.000 
ounces  of  gold  and  contributed  90  per  cent  of  the  total  gold  output  of  the  State. 
Of  these  8  produced  in  excess  of  20,000  ounces  and  4  in  excess  of  50,000  ounces. 
Of  these  companies  12  operated  gold  dredges,  1  operated  a  lead  and  1  a  silver  mine, 
3  operated  copper  mines,  and  24  operated  gold  quartz  mines.  The  10  largest  gold- 
producing  companies  in  1925,  in  order  of  output,  were  the  Y'uba  Consolidated  Gold 
Fields  (6  dredges).  Natomas  Co.  of  California  (8  dredges).  Empire  Mines  Co. 
(gold  quartz).  Sixteen  to  One  Mine  Co.  (gold  quartz),  Kennedy  Mining  &  Milling  Co. 
(gold  quartz).  North  Star  Mines  Co.  (gold  quartz).  Argonaut  Mining  Co.  (gold 
quartz),  Carson  Hill  Gold  Mines  (Inc.)  (gold  quartz).  Central  Eureka  Mining  Co. 
(gold  quartz),  and  the  Walker  Mining  Co.    (coiiper  ore). 

"The  yield  of  gold  from  placer  mines  in  1925  was  valued  at  $5,096,144,  an  increase 
of  11  per  cent  as  compared  with  1924.  There  was  an  increased  gold  yield  of  10  per 
cent  by  dredges  and  191  per  cent  by  hydraulic  mines,  but  decreases  of  33  per  cent 
and  17  per  cent  by  drift  and  surface  mines,  respectively,  as  compared  with  1924. 
In  1925  dredges  produced  93  per  cent,  drift  mines  slightly  over  1  per  cent,  hydraulic 
mines  nearly  4  i^er  cent,  and  surface  placers  2  per  cent  of  the  gold  produced  from 
placer  deposits.  Placer  mines  of  Y'uba  Countv  increased  their  gold  production  bv 
$575,138,  Sacramento  County  by  $151,633,  Si.skivou  Countv  bv  $33,229,  Humboldt 
County  by  $11,873.  and  Nevada  County  by  $10,415,  as  compared  with  1924,  and  the 
placer  mines  of  Amador,  Mariposa,  Placer,  and  Sierra  counties  increased  their  output 
by  more  than  3,000  each.  There  were  slight  increases  in  placer  yield  from  Inyo. 
Plumas,  San  Diego,  and  Trinity  counties.  The  gold  produced  at  placer  mines 
declined  in  Butte  County  by  $193,015.  Calaveras  Countv  bv  $40,874,  Shasta  County 
by  $31,572,  and  Stanislaus  County  by  $24,277,  as  compared  with  1924.  In  Fresno, 
Kern,  Madera,  and  Tuolumne  counties  there  was  less  placer  gold  produced  than  in 
the  previous  year.  Production  of  gold  by  24  dredges  in  1925  was  $4,750,842.  an 
increase  of  $445,321  as  compared  with  1924.  There  was  an  increased  production  by 
dredges  in  Sacramento  and  Yul>a  counties,  but  declines  in  the  gold  yield  from 
dredges  in  Butte,  Calaveras,  Placer,  Shasta,  Stanislaus,  and  Trinity  counties.  Gold 
produced  at  71  drift  mines  in  1925  was  valued  at  $66,523,  a  decrease  of  $32,045  as 
compared  with  1924.  Increases  of  gold  output  from  drift  mines  was  recorded  from 
El  Dorado,  Placer,  Shasta,  Trinity,  and  Yuba  counties,  but  decreases  from  drift 
mines  in  Butte.  Calaveras,  Mariposa,  Nevada,  Plumas,  Sierra,  and  Tuolumne  counties. 
Drift  mines  in  Sacramento  County  were  productive  in  1925.  but  not  in  1924.  Gobi 
produced  at  98  hydraulic  mines  in  1925  was  valued  at  $175,345.  an  increa.se  of 
$115,150  as  compared  with  1924.  The  gold  production  at  hvdraulic  mines  increased 
in  Siskiyou  County  by  $31,644,  in  Trinity  Countv  bv  S25.196,  in  Sierra  County  bv 
$18,343,  in  Nevada  County  by  $15,321.  in  Humboldt  bv  $12,569.  and  by  less  than 
$10,000  in  Amador,  Plumas,  and  Shasta  counties.  Gold  produced  bv  166  surface  or 
sluice  operations  in   1925  was  valued  at  $103,434,  a  decrease  of  $20,654  as  compared 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


45 


with  i;i2-J.  Ill  iJiiu'ticallv  all  tlio  iniiiins  counties  of  the  State  f?old  is  recovered  by 
itinerant  placer  prospectors  and  it  is  vei-y  diflicult  to  apportion  properly  the  gold 
produced  bv  these  floating  miners.  .      . 

"The  production  of  gold  from  332  deep  mines  in  California  m  102u  was  valued  at 
$7,:tG9,lS6,  a  decrease  of  7  per  cent  as  compared  with  1924.  The  deep  mines  of 
Amador  and  Nevada  counties  produced  over  ;f2.000,000  in  gold,  of  Sierra  County  over 
$1,000,000  in  gold,  of  Calaveras  County  over  $.">00,000  in  gold,  and  of  Plumas  County 
over  $200,000  in  gold.  Over  $100,000  in  gold  was  produced  by  deep  mines  in  Mari- 
posa, Shasta,  San  Bernardino.  Tuolumne,  Kern,  Siskiyou,  and  Butte  counties.  Deep 
mines  of  Nevada  Countv  produced  $.".24,840  less  gold,  of  Amador  County  $37o,401 
less  gold,  and  of  Calaveras  County  $1(;0.654  less  gold  than  in  1924.  There  was  a 
decreased  vield  of  more  than  $2.5,000  by  the  deep  mines  in  Plumas,  San  Bernardino. 
Mono.  Sha'sta,  and  Tuolumne  counties.  Large  increases  of  value  in  gold  were 
recorded  from  deep  mines  in  Sierra  County,  $569,262,  Si.skiyou  County,  $83,321,  and 
Butte  Countv,  $63,774.  Gold  ore  and  tailings  yielded  93  per  cent,  copper  ore  and 
tailings  4  per  cent,  silver  ore  and  tailings  2  per  cent,  and  lead  and  zinc  ores  1  per 
cent  of  the  total  deep-gold  production.  Of  the  gold  recovered  from  ore  and  tailings 
in  1925,  72  per  cent  was  recovered  by  amalgamation,  16  per  cent  by  cyanidation, 
and  12  per  cent  by  smelting." 


P.  and  H.  gasoline  steam-shovel  and  Pierce  gravel  gold-washing  machine  on 
Jenkins  &  Taylor  Placer  near  French  Culch,  Shasta  County.  Photo  by  courtesy 
of  Clifford  Taylor. 


Total    Gold    Production    of   California. 

The  presence  of  gold  in  stream  gravels  near  Los  Angeles  was  known 
and  worked  in  a  small  way  b}'  the  Indians,  at  least  as  early  as  1841/ 
and  possibly  1820.-  On  ]\[arch  2,  1844,  Don  ]Mannel  Castanares,  deputy 
for  California  to  the  Congress  of  Mexico,  reported^  to  his  govern- 
ment that  placers  near  Los  Angeles  had  produced  up  to  December,  184;^ 
a  total  of  2000  ounces  of  gold  dust,  most  of  which  had  been  sent  to  the 
Tiiited  States  mint  at  Philadelphia. 

As  the  padres  and  the  raneheros  discouraged  the  quest  of  gold  tiiis 
earl}',  small  production  caused  no  particular  excitement.  It  was  not 
until  James  W.  Marshall's  finding  of  gold  nuggets  in  the  tail-race  of 
Sutter's  saw  mill  on  the  American  River,  January  24,  1848,  was 
heralded  abroad  that  the  great  rush  began,  and  California  became 
a  commonwealth  of  first  rank  almost  over  night.  There  are,  however, 
no  authentic  data  on  gold  jirodiution  prior  to  1848,  other  than  occa- 
sional, scattered  references  such  as  above  quoted. 

^Hittell,  T.  H.,  History  of  California:  Vol.  II.  p.  312,  18S5. 

^Bancroft.  H.   H.,  Historv  of  California:  Vol.  II,  p.  417,  1886. 

•'■Mercantile  Trust  Review  of  the  Pacific,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  p.  43,  Feb.   15,  1925. 


46 


MINERAL    IXnr.'^TUV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Tile  foUowiiiii'  tahlc  was  originally  f()iiij)ilc(l  \)y  (.'has.  (r.  Yale,  of  tlir 
Division  of  IMineral  Resouivies,  U.  S.  Geolotrieal  Survey,  but  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  statistician  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau  and  the 
U.  S.  ]\Iint  at  San  Francisco.  The  authorities  chosen  for  certain  periods 
were:  J.  D.  Whitney,  state  geologist  of  California;  John  Arthur 
Phillips,  author  of  "JMining  and  .Metalluroy  of  Gold  and  Silver" 
(1867);  U.  S.  jMining  Commissioner  R.  W.  Raymond;  U.  S.  Alining 
Commissioner  J.  Ross  Browne;  Wm.  P.  Blake,  Commissioner  from  Cali- 
fornia to  the  Paris  Exposition,  where  he  made  a  report  on  "Precious 
Metals"  (1867)  ;  John  J.  Valentine,  author  for  many  years  of  the 
annual  report  on  precious  metals  published  by  Wells,  Fargo  &  Com- 
pany's Express;  and  Louis  A.  Garnett,  in  the  early  days  manager  of 
the  San  Francisco  refinery,  where  records  of  gold  receipts  and  shi])- 
ments  were  kept.  Mr.  Yale  obtained  other  data  from  the  reports  of" 
the  director  of  the  U.  S.  !Mint  and  the  director  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey.  The  authorities  referred  to,  who  were  alive  at  the  time  of  the 
original  compilation  of  this  table  in  1894,  were  all  consulted  in  person 
or  by  letter  b}^  ^h\  Yale  with  reference  to  the  correctness  of  their 
published  data,  and  the  final  table  quoted  was  then  made  up. 

The  figures  for  1903-192:^  (inclusive),  are  those  prepared  by  the 
IT.  S.  Geological  Survey;  and  since  In^  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines: 


Year 

Value 

Year 

Value 

1848 ...          . 

$245,301 
10,151,360 
41,273,106 
75,938,232 
81,294,700 
67,613,487 
69,433,931 
55,485,395 
57,509,411 
43,628,172 
46,591,140 
45,846,599 
44,095,163 
41,884,995. 
38,854,668  ! 
23,501,736 
24,071,423 
17,930,858 
17,123,867  I 
18,265,452 
17,555,867 
18,229,044 
17,458,133  ! 
17,477,885  1 
15,482,194  ; 
15,019,210  ' 
17,264,836 
16,876,009 
1,1,610,723 
16,501,268 
18,839,141  1 
19,626,654 
20,030,761 
19,223,155 
17,146,416  1 
24,316,873 
13,600,000  1 
12,661,044  1 
14,716,506  1 
13,588,614  1 

1888 

812,750,000 

1849. 

1889 

11,212,913 

1850 

1890.  ...  

12,309,793 

1851 

1891...   .. 

12,728,869 

1852 

1892 

12,571,900 

1853 

1893 

12,538,780 

1854 

1894 ...  ..  . 

13,863,282 

1855 

1895 

15,334,317 

1856.. 

1896 ...  ...   .   

17,181,562 

1857 

1897 

15,871,401 

1858 

1898 

15,906,478 

1859. 

1899 

15,336,031 

1860. 

1900 

1901.  .. 

15,863,355 

1861  

16,989,044 

1862 

1902 

16,910,320 

1863 

1903 

16,300,653 

1864 

1904. 

18,633,676 

1865     .             ... 

1905 

18,898,545 

1866 

1906 

18,732,452 

1867 

1907 

16,727,928 

1868 

1908...  ... 

18,761,559 

1869 

1909 - 

20,237,870 

1870 

1910 

19,715,440 

1871 

1911 

19,738,908 

1872 

1912 

19,713,478 

1873 

1913 

20,406,958 

1874 

1914  .  ... 

20,653,496 

1875 

1915 

22,442,296 

1876 

1916...  _. 

21,410,741 

1877 

1917..   ...  

20,087,504 

1878 

1918 

16,528,953 

1879 

1919 

16,695,955 

1880 

1920 

14,311,043 

1881              -   

1921 

15,704,822 

1882 

1922 _. 

1923. 

14,670,346 

1883 

13,379,013 

1884 

1924. 

13,150.175 

1885 

1925 

13,065,330 

1886 

1887 

$1,789,298,515 

r 

I 


STATISTICS   OF   AXXUAL    PRODUCTION. 


IRIDIUM    (see    under    Platinum). 
IRON   ORE. 


Bihliographij:  State  ]\Iiiieral()«;i.st  Reports  II,  IV,  V,  X,  XII-XV 
(inc.),  XVII,  XVIII,  XXI.  Bulletins  38,  67,  91.  Am.  Inst.  :\Iin. 
Eng.,  Trans.  LIII.  Min.  &  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  112,  117-122 ; 
Vol:  123,  pp.  94-96,  113-114. 

A  small  tonnage  of  iron  ore  was  produced  in  California  during  tlie 
year  1925,  and  utilized  for  foundry  flux  and  in  steel  relining  at  open- 
hearth  plants.  As  there  was  only  a  single  operator,  the  figures  are 
eoneealed  under  the  'unapportioned'  total.  There  is  also  some  tonnage 
utilized  in  the  numufaeture  of  paint  pigment,  and  wliieh  is  credited  to 
']uineral  paint'  in  these  statistical  rejiorts. 

There  are  considerable  deposits  of  iron  ore  known  in  California, 
notably  in  Shasta,  ^Madera,  Placer,  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino 
counties,  but  production  has  so  far  been  limited  for  lack  of  an  economic 
supply  of  coking  coal.  Some  pig-iron  has  been  made,  utilizing  char- 
coal for  fuel,  both  in  blast  furnaces  and  by  electrical  reduction;  also, 
ferrochrome,  ferromanganese,  and  ferrosilicon  have  been  made  in 
California. 


Total   Iron  Ore   Production   of  California. 


Total  iron  ore  production  in  California,  with  annual  amounts  and 
values,  is  as  follows: 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1881=1 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 


9,273 

2,073 

11,191 

4,532 


$79,452 
17,766 

106,540 
40,983 


3,676 

19,250 

..      250 

2,000 

200 

1,500 

400 

400 

108 
579 
558 


174 
900 
658 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1912  - 

1913  . 

1914  . 

1915  . 

1916  . 

1917  - 

1918  - 

1919  . 

1920  - 

1921  . 

1922  - 

1923  . 
11124  ) 
1925  i 


2.508 

S  2.508 

2,343 

4,485 

1,436 

5,128 

724 

2.584 

3,000 

6,000 

2,874 

11,496 

3,108 

15,947 

2,300 

13,796 

5,975 

40,889 

1.970 

12.030 

3,588 

18.868 

3,102 

18.665 

785 

4.710 

Totals 


66,533 


$526,620 


*Productions  for  the  year  1881-1886  (inc.)  were  reported  as  "tons  of  pig  Iron"  (U.  S.  G.  S., 
Min.  Res.  1885).  and  for  the  table  herewith  are  calculated  to  "tons  of  ore"  on  the  basis  of 
47.6%  Fe  as  shown  by  an  average  of  analyses  of  the  ores  (State  Mineralogist  Report  IV,  p.  212). 
This  early  production  of  pig  iron  was  from  the  blast  furnaces  then  in  operation  at  Hotaling  in 
Placer  County.  Charcoal  was  used  in  lieu  of  coke.  Though  producing  a  superior  grade  oi 
metal,  they  were  obliged  finally  to  close  down,  as  they  could  not  compete  with  the  cheaper 
English  and  eastern  United  States  iron  brought  in  by  sea  to  San  Francisco. 
«  Annual  details  concealed  iindei-  'Unapportioned.' 

LEAD. 

BihliorjrapJnj:   State   IMineralogist   Reports   IV,   VIIT-XV    Hnc.), 
XVil-XXII  (inc.). 

Production  of  lead  in  California  in  1925  increased  approximately 
40'/c  in  quantity  and  60','  in  value  over  the  preceding  year.  As  in  tlie 
past,  the  principal  output  was  from  lead-silver  ores  in  Inyo  County. 
The  total  recoverable  lead  in  ores  shipped  from  Californian  mines  in 


48  MINERAL    IxniSTKY    OF    CALIFOUN'IA. 

I!l2r)  aiuouiilrd  to  7,-"!.")2,422  [louiids  vjiliicd  ;i1  H^():{!>,()()1 ,  tM»iii[)ai'('(l  willi 
4,984,;587  jiouiids  mikI  ij^iJitH,?')!  in  li)24.  'I'liis,  in  tiii'ii,  however,  was 
slightly  less  Ihau  Ihc  1I)2:{  yield.  The  axci-a^c  pi'icc  of  lead  in  l})2r) 
was  8.7^  i)ei-  |)ound  as  ayainsl  S.Or  in  1!)24,  7. Or  in  li»2:),  and  '-i.Uc 
in  ]9i:5. 

The   li)2r)   lead    iiroduetioii   was   distrihiilcd    by    coiinlics   as   follows: 

Lead    Production,    by   Counties,    1925. 

County.  Pounds.  Value. 

Inyo     G,30L105  $548,1;»G 

Mono 1 22,4!SS  L{tr,7 

Uiverside    , 1:^5,872  11,821 

San  Bernardino (i],4.S0  5,34:t 

Shasta . 047,88(1  .-i6,3r,i; 

Amador,  Butte,  Calaveras,  Los  Angeles,   Nevada,   Orange* 183,591  15,97  2 

Totals 7,352,422  $0.39, Glil 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  .single  operator  iii  each. 


1925 


1926 


From   Engineering  and   Mining   Journal-Press,    April    3,    1926. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  49 

Lead    Production   of   California,   by    Years. 

Statistics  on  lead  production  in  California  were  first  compiled  by 
this  Bureau  in  1887.  Amount  and  value  of  the  output,  annually,  with 
total  figures,  to  date,  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Year 


Pounds 


Value 


1887 1,160,000  I  $52,200 

1888 900,000  38,250 

1889 940,000  i  35,720 

1890 :  800,000  36,000 

1891 i  1,140,000  49,020 

1892 1,360,000  54,400 

1893 666,000  ,  24,975 

1894 950,000  ,  28,500 

1895 1,592.400  49,364 

1896 1,293,500  ,  38,805 

1897 596.000  |  20,264 

1898 655,000  |  23.907 

1899 721.000  I  30,642 

19(^0 1.040.000  41.600 

1901  720,500  28.820 

1902 349.440  12,230 

19r'3 110.000  I  3.960 

1904 124,000  1  5,270 

1905 533.680  >  25.0^3 

1906  I  338,718  1          19,307 

1907 328,681  16,690 


Tear 


Pounds 


1908 ',      1,124,483 

1909 I      2,685,477 

1910 !      3,016,902 


1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918                —    — 

1,403,839 

1,370,067 

3,640,951 

4.697,400 

4,796,299 

12,392,031 

21.651,352 

13.464.869 

1919  .-    

4.139..562 

1920 

4.903,738 

1921      

1,149,051 

1922         

6.511.280 

1923 

9,934,522 
4.984,.387 
7,352,422 

1924^  .        __         _     . 

1925 

Totals 

125.537,551 

Value 


.$40,GG3 

144,897 

134,082 

63.173 

61,653 

160.202 

18-3,198 

225,426 

855,049 

1,862,016 

956.006 

219,397 

392,300 

51,707 

358.120 

695,416 

398.751 

639,661 

,$8,082,724 


'  MANGANESE. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV  (inc.),  XVIII. 
Bulletins  38,  67,  76,  91.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  427.  Eng.  &  IMin. 
Jour. -Press,  Vol.  117,  p.  545. 

Manganese  ore  shipments  in  California  in  1925  amounted  to  a  total 

I  of  532  tons  of  all  grades  valued  at  $11,500,  being  a  decrease  both  in 

'  quantity  and  value  from  tlie  1924  yie-ld  wliich  totaled  1115  tons  and 

$25,785  value.     These  ores  sliowed  analyses  of  from  45'^   to  55%  Mn, 

and  were  utilized  by  Pacific  Coast  plants  for  ferromanganese. 

Importations  of  foreign  manganese  ores  in  1925,  mainly  from  Brazil, 
amounted  to  a  total  of  291,662  long  tons  valued  at  $7,966,688,  com- 
pared with  254,458  tons  and  $6,036,760  in  1924.  The  Tariff  Act  of 
1922  provides  for  an  import  duty  of  1^  per  pound  on  the  metallic 
manganese  contained,  for  "manganese  ore  or  concentrates  containing 
!  in  excess  of  30  per  centum  of  metallic  manganese."  The  bulk  of  sucli 
ore  is  consumed  in  the  large  steel-producing  centers  of  the  eastern 
United   States. 

'  Manganese   Ore    Production    in   California,   by   Years. 

j  Production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  liegan  at  the  Ladd  ]\Iine. 
San  Joatiuin  County,  in  the  Tesla  District  in  1867.  AVhen  shipments 
i  of  this  ore  to  England  ceased  late  in  1874,  upwards  of  5000  tons  had 
i  been  produced  by  that  property.  For  some  years  following  tliat,  the 
1  outjiMt  was  small.     The  tabulation  herewith  sliows  Californijrs  output 


-47818 


50 

MINERAT. 

INDUSTRY    OF    ( 

AMFORNIA. 

of  inangaue.se  oie 

annually 

v,  since 

1887,  w 

iien  the  eonipihilion 

ol!  sucli 

figures 

was 

begun 

by  the  State  JMining  Bui 

reau : 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tona 

Talu* 

1887  .... 

—      1.000 

$9,000 

1907 

1 

$-- 

1888  .... 

— .      1,500 

13  500 

1908 

a9i 

5.785 
75 

1889  .... 

53 

901 

1909  ... 

3 

1890  .... 

386 

3,176 

1910  ... 

265 

4,235 

1891  .... 

705 
300 

3.830 
3,000 

1911  ... 

2 
22 

40 

1892  .... 

1912  ... 

400 

1893  .... 

270 
523 

4,050 
5.512 

1913  ... 

1894  .... 

1914 

150 

1500 

1895  .... 

880 

8,200 

1915  ... 

4.013 

49.098 

1896  .... 

518 

3,415 

1916  ... 

13.404 

274.601 

1897  . 

504 

4.080 

1917  ... 



15.515 

396,669 

1898  .... 

440 

2,102 

1918  ... 

26.075 

979,236 

1899  . 

295 

3.165 

1919  ... 

11,569 

4.51.422 

1900  .... 

131 

1.310 

19-20  ... 

2.892 

62,323 

1901  . 

425 

4.405 

1921  ... 

1,005 

12,210 

1902  .... 

870 
1 

7.140 

25 

1922  ... 

540 
690 

7,650 

1903  .... 

1923  ... 

10,620 

1904  .... 

60 

900 

1924 

1,115 

25,78:1 

1905  .... 

1925 

Totals 

532 

11,. 500 

30 

1906  -    . 

1 

80,976 

$2,370.9fM 

MOLYBDENUM. 

BihliograpJnj:  State  ]\rinei'a]oo-ist  Reports  XTV,  XVTT.  Bulletins 
67,  91.  TJ.  S.  Bur.  of  Min.,  Bulletin  111.  Proe.  Colo.  Sci.  Soc.,, 
Vol.  XI. 

]Molybdenum  is  used  as  an  alloy  constituent  in  the  steel  industry, 
and  in  certain  forms  of  electrical  apparatus.  Included  in  the  latter 
is  its  successful  .substitution  for  platinum  and  platinum-iridium  in 
electric  contact-making-  and  -breaking  devices.  In  alloys  it  is  used 
similarly  to  and  in  conjunction  with  chromium,  cobalt,  iron,  manganese, 
nickel,  tungsten,  and  vanadium.  The  oxides  and  the  ammonium  .salt 
have  important  chemical  uses. 

Tlie  two  principal  molybdenum  minerals  are:  the  sulphide,  molyb-' 
denite ;  and  wulfenite,  lead  molybdate;  the  former  furnishing  prac-« 
tically  the  entire  commercial  output.  Molybdenite  is  found  in  or  asso-} 
ciated  with  acidic  igneous  rocks,  such  as  granite  and  pegmatite.  The 
cliief  commercial  .sources  have  been  New  South  Wales,  Queensland,  and  • 
Norway,  with  some  also  from  Canada  ;  but  the  United  States  is  now  i 
able  to  supply  its  oavu  requirements.  ' 

The  growing  consumption  of  molybdenum  by  alloy-steel  makers  in 
the  United  States  has  been  stimulated  by  the  fact  that  molybdenum 
alone  of  the  .steel-alloying  metals  can  be  produced  commercially  in  the. 
I.^nited  States  to  an  extent  which  avoids  all  necessity  for  importation. 
Another  fact  has  been  the  marked  adaptability  of  molybdenum  steels 
to  large-scale  production  of  automobile  and  other  parts. 

The  mo.st  important  development  of  1924-1925  was  the  elimination 
of  ferromolybdenum  from  the  market  due  to  the  substitution  of  cal- 
cium molybdate  as  the  furnace  addition  by  the  entire  alloy-.steel 
industry.  Calcium  molybdate  is  stated  to  be  not  only  easier  and  less 
costly  to  prepare,  but  it  introduces  the  molybdenum  into  the  .steel  bath 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  51 

ill  a  niueii  purer  form,  the  i-csnlt i)ij>'  steel  l)eiii<i-  sni)eri()r  Jo  lliat  luade 
with  i'erromolyl)deinim. 

Deposits  of  dissemiuated  luolybdeiiite  are  known  in  several  localities 
in  California,  and  in  at  least  two  places  it  occurs  in  small  masses 
associated  with  copper  sulphides.  The  only  recorded  commercial  ship- 
ments of  molybdenum  ore  in  California  were  during  the  war,  1916- 
]918.  Some  (.Un-elopment  work  lias  been  recently  done  on  a  high-grade 
dei)osit  at  the  head  of  the  Kaweah  River,  Tulare  County. 

Present  quotations  for  molybdenum  ore  are  5,')^'-  per  ])()un(l  for  8')% 
Ab)So  concentrates. 

Molybdenum   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

California's  production  of  molybdenum  ore  by  years  is  sumnuirized 
in  the  following  tal)ulation : 

Year  Tons  Value 

1916 8  if9,945 

1917     24:i  9,014 

1918 *  300 

Totals 251  $19,259 

*nOO  pounds  of  90%  M0S2  concentrate. 

NICKEL. 

llihJioiiraplni:  State  IMineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XVII,  U.  S.  G. 
S.,  Bulletin  640-D.     U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards,  Circular  TOO. 

Nickel  occurs  in  the  Friday  Copper  Mine  in  the  Julian  District,  San 
Diego  County.  The  ore  is  a  nickel-bearing  pyrrhotite,  with  some 
associated  chalcopyrite.  Some  ore  has  been  mined  in  the  course  of 
development  work,  but  not  treated  nor  disposed  of,  as  they  Avere  unable 
to  get  any  smelter  to  liandle  it  for  them.  Nickel  ore  has  also  been 
reported  from  other  localities  in  California,  but  not  yet  confirmed. 

Present  quotations  for  nickel  are  around  ;35f-86^'  per  pound  for  the 
refined  metal. 

OSMIUM    (see   under   Platinum). 

PALLADIUM    (see   under   Platinum). 

PLATINUM. 

liibJifH/rapJni:  State  JMineralogist  Reports  IV,  VITI,  IX,  XTT- 
XV]  11.  Bulletins  38,  45,  67,  85,  91,  92.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.  Bulle- 
tins 193,  285.    Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  Vol.  47,  pp.  217-218. 

In  California  platinum  is  obtained  as  a  by-product  from  placer 
operations  for  gold.  Tlie  major  portion  of  it  comes  from  the  dredges 
working  in  Butte,  Calaveras,  Sacramento,  Stanislaus,  and  Yuba  coun- 
ties, with  smaller  amounts  from  the  hydraulic  and  surface-sluicing 
n  ines  of  Del  Norte,  Humboldt,  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  and  Trinity. 

The  production  of  platinum-group  metals  in  California  for  the  year 
1925  totaled  355  ounces,  crude,  containing  292  fine  ounces,  valued  at 
$39,937.  Of  this  amount,  a  total  of  307  ounces,  crude,  or  86%,  came 
from  the  gold  dredges.  This  is  a  slight  increase  over  the  273  fine 
ounces  worth  $36,452  sold  in  1924. 

The  above-noted  total  of  292  fine  ounces  includes  120  fine  ounces  of 
iridium,  osmiridium,  ruthenium,  and  palladium.  Most  of  tiie  platinum 
refiners  pay  for  tlie  osmiridium   on  the  basis  of  its  iridium  content. 


52 


.MIXEKAL    IXDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORXIA. 


Crude  'platinum'  is  rcfilly  a  mixture  of  the  iiK^tals  of  that  <rroui), 
and  carries  varyinfr  pei-eenta<res  of  platinum,  iridium,  osmiridium  or 
iridosiiiine,  with  oceasionally  some  rutlienium  and  palladium.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  above-noted  i)roduetion,  there  is  usually  some  ])latinura 
recovered  as  a  by-product  in  the  fjold  refinery  of  the  mint,  but  which 
can  not  be  assigned  to  the  territory  of  its  origin  for  lack  of  knowing 
to  which  lots  of  gold  it  belongs.  Some  platinum  and  palladium  arc 
also  recovered  in  the  electrolytic  refining  of  bli.ster  copper. 

For  1925,  the  distribution  bj^  counties  of  California's  platinum  yield 
was  as  follows : 

Platinum    Production,    by    Counties,    1925. 

County                                                                                                Fine  ounces  Value 

Butte a  56  $9,177 

Shasta 8  725 

Trinity    26  3,081 

Calaveras,     Del     Norte.     Humboldt,     Sacramento,"     Siskivou, 

Stanislaus,  Yuba  •>  * '_ 202  26,954 

Totals 292  $39,937 

*  Includes  ruthenium  and  palladium. 
''  Includes  palladium. 

*  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Uses,    Markets,    and    Consumption. 

Besides  its  well-known  uses  in  jewelry,  denti.stry  and  for  chemieal- 
w^are,  an  important  industrial  development  of  recent  years  employs 
platinum  as  a  catalyzer  in  the  'contact  process'  of  manufacturing  con- 
centrated .sulphuric  acid.  It  is  also  necessary  for  certain  delicate  parts 
of  the  ignition  systems  in  automobiles,  motor  boats  and  aeroplanes. 
Experiments  have  been  made  to  find  alloys  which  can  replace  platinum 
for  dishes  and  crucibles  in  analytical  work,  but  so  far  with  only  slight 
success. 

According  to  Hill,^  tlie  total  consumption  of  platinum  metals  in 
the  United  States  in  1925  was  137,345  troy  ounces,  an  increase  over  that 
consumed  in  1924,  distributed  as  foUoAvs : 


"Platinum  metals  consumed  in  the  United  States  as  reported  by  refiners,  1924  and  1925,  by  industries,  in  troy  ou"ces 


Industrj- 

Platinum 

Palladium 

Iridium 

others 

Total 

Percental;  (■ 
of  tctal 

10.24 

C  hemical 

Electrical 

Dental 

10,507 
16,588 
11.092 
87,151 
5,012 

436 
3,099 
10.049 
12,480 
2,122 

122 
1,269 

131 
2,204 

634 

403 

746 
973 

11,468 
20.956 
21,272 
102.581 
8.741 

13 
13 

Jewelry 

62 

Miscellaneous 

5 

Totals 

130,350 

12,558 
18.845 

9,293 
93.293 

3,356 

28,186 

383 
3,157 
14,952 
10.950 

520 

4,360 

71 
1.579 

95 

2,840 

220 

2  122 

685 
111 

2,280 
1,414 

165,018 

13,697 
23.692 
24,340 
109,363 
5,510 

100 

1925 

Chennical 

Electrical 

Dental              .          .            -     . 

8 
13 
14 

■lewelry 

62 
3 

Totals 

137,345 

29,962 

4,805 

4,490 

176,602 

100 

'Hill,    J.    M.,   Refined   platinum   and   allied    metals    in    192.1:    IT 
Press  Bull..  Ajiril  29,   1926. 


S.    Bur.    of    Mill. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


53 


"Stocks. 

"At  the  end  of  1925  stocks  of  cnidc  platinum  metals  in  the  hands  of  refiners  were  79,093  ounces,  an  increase  of  4554 
ounces  as  compared  with  stocks  on  hand  December  31,  1924. 

"Stocks  of  platinum  metals  in  hands  of  refiners  in  the  United  States  December  31,  1921-1925,  in  troy  ounces. 


Year 

Platinum 

Palladium 

Iridium 

Others 

Total 

1921              -.1 --- 

38,514 
41,900 
3G,554 
40,4(i4 
44,024 

21,042 
24,975 
26,266 
27,400 
20.740 

4,991 
7,.559 
5,208 
3,622 
3,720 

3,113 
1,583 
2,697 
3,053 
4,609 

67,660 

1922                                     -- 

76,017 

1923                   

70,725 

1924            - 

74,539 

1925 

79,093 

Platinum  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  anuiial  production  and  value  since  1887,  have  been  as  follows 


Year 

Ounces 

Value        j 

Vear 

Ounces 

Value 

1887  

100 

$400 

1907 

300 

$6,255 

1888 

500 

2,000 

1908 

706 

13,414 

1889 

500 

2.000 

1900 

416 

10,400 

1890 

600 

2,500 

1910 

337 

8,386 

1891  

100 

500 

1911 

511 

14,873 

1892 

80 

440 

1912 

603 

19,731 

1893 

75 

517 

1913 

368 

17,738 

1891  

100 

600 

1914 

463 

14,816 

1895 

1,% 

900 

1915 

067 

21,149 

1896 

162 

944 

1916 

886 

42,642 

1897 

150 

900 

1917 

610 

43,719 

1898 

300 

1,800 

1918 

571 

42,788 

1899 

300 

1,800 

1919 

*418 

y0.611 

1900 

400 

2.500 

1920 

477 

68.977 

1901  

250 

3,200 

1921 

613 

58,754 

1902 

39 

468 

1922 

795 

90,288 

1%.3 

70 

123 

1,052 
1,849 

1923 

602 

78,546 

1904 

1924 _   -    _     — 

273 

36,452 

1905 

200 

91 

3.320 

1,647 

192.', 

Totals 

292 

39,937 

1906 

14,192 

$718,813 

♦Fine  ounces,   beginning  with  1919. 

QUICKSILVER. 

BibJiofjrapiuj:  State  Mineralo^rist  Reports  IV,  V,  XII-XV,  XVIT- 
XXTI  (inc.).  Bulletins  27,  78,  91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Snrv.,  Mono- 
liraph  XTII.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Tech.  Papers  96,  227 ;  Bulle- 
tin 222. 

Quicksilver  was  produced  in  California  in  seven  counties  duriuitr 
1925  to  the  amount  of  16S'.l  Hasks  (of  75  pounds,  avoirdupois)  valued 
at  .i^621,8.'n,  beinji"  a  sli<j:ht  decrease  in  quantity  but  an  increase  in 
\Hlue  compared  with  the  1924  output  of  7948  flasks  worth  $543,080. 
This  was  due  to  improved  prices.  The  average  price  received  during; 
1925,  aceordinf?  to  the  producers'  reports  to  the  State  ]\Iininn:  Bureau, 
was  $80.81  per  flask,  as  ajrainst  $68.33  in  1924  and  the  record  avera<re 
of  $114.03  for  the  year  1918. 

The  averajje  of  San  Francisco  quotations  for  1925  Avas  $82.60  j)er 
flask,  the  price  ranging  without  sliarp  fluctuations  between  $79.90  and 


54  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

$82.83  from  January  1st  until  the  end  of  October.  Beginning  witli 
November  the  quotations  advanced  sharplv  to  $85.17  and  to  a  maximum 
of  $91.67,  closing  the  year  at  $90.17.  Thus  far  for  1926,  San  Fran- 
cisco quotations  liave  ranged  betAveen  $88  and  $90  per  flask.  The 
average  of  quotations  for  1925  in  New  York  was  $83.13  per  flask. 

The  above-noted  yield  of  7683  flasks  in  1925  was  won  from  a  total 
of  59,797  tons  of  ore,  being  an  average  content  of  9.64  pounds  per  ton, 
or  0.482%  mercury. 

The  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  reports  the  total  production  of  the  United 
States  for  1925  at  9174  flasks  valued  at  $762,616  (using  $83,128  as  the 
average  of  New  York  quotations).  Outside  of  California,  tlie  prin- 
cipal yield  was  from  Texas,  with  a  few  flasks  from  Nevada,  Arizona, 
and  Idaho.     California's  contribution  was  84%   of  the  total. 

The  imports  of  quicksilver  in  1925  amounted  to  11,245  flasks  from 
Italy  and  9754  flasks  from  Spain,  and  from  all  other  countries  1782 
flasks,  making  a  total  of  22,781  flasks.     The  exports  were  204  flasks. 

The  1925  quicksilver  production  in  California  was  distributed,  by 
counties,  as  follows : 

County.                                                                                                        Flasks.  Value. 

San  Benito 6,08.">  .?486,797 

Sonoma 351  29,1.34 

Kings,  Monterey,  Napa,    San  L,ui.s  Obhspo,  Santa  Clara* 1,247  105,900 

Totals 7,683  $621,831 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Uses. 

The  most  important  uses  of  quicksilver  are  the  recovery  of  gold  and 
silver  by  amalgamation,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for  explo- 
sive caps,  of  drugs,  of  electric  appliances,  and  of  scientific  apparatus. 
By  far  the  greatest  consumption  is  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate 
and  drugs. 

Gould  ^  states : 

"Consumption  of  the  metal  in  this  country  continues  to  increase, 
principally  in  the  electrical  and  allied  industries.  Although  accurate 
data  are  not  available,  the  United  States  wdll  probably  consume  nearly 
45,000  flasks  of  mercury  in  1926,  or  about  one-half  of  the  world's 
production.  This  is  twice  the  pre-war  consumption,  and  each  year 
shows  a  heavy  increase.  European  advices  indicate  an  increased 
demand  for  the  metal  on  the  continent,  especially  in  Germany.  For 
ten  years  prior  to  1914,  Germany  was  the  world's  largest  market  for 
quicksilver,  and  that  country  will  probably  again  become  a  large 
consumer. ' ' 

Total    Quicksilver    Production    of    California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  the  quicksilver  production  of  California, 
as  given  in  available  records,  is  .shown  in  the  following  tabulation. 
Though  the  New  Almaden  INIine  in  Santa  Clara  County  was  first  worked 
in  1924,  and  has  been  in  practically  continuous  operation  since  1846 
(the  yield  being  small  the  fir.st  two  years),  there  are  no  available  data 
on  the  output  earlier  than  1850.  Previous  to  June,  1904,  a  'flask'  of 
quicksilver  contained  76^  pounds,  l)nt  since  that  date  75  pounds.     In 

>  Gould,  H.  W.,  Quicksilver:  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour-Press,  Vol.  121,  p.  91,  Jan.  16,  1926. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


55 


compiling  this  table  the  following'  sources  of  information  were  used: 
for  1850-1883,  table  bv  J.  B.  Kandol,  in  Report  of  State  Mineralogist, 
IV,  p.  336;  1883-1893"^  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  reports;  1894  to  date, 
statistical  bulletins  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau;  also  State  Mining 
Bureau,  Bulletin  27,  "Quicksilver  Resources  of  California,"  1908, 
p.  10: 


Year 


Flasks 


Value 


Average 

price  per 

flask 


Year 


Flasks 


Value 


Average 

price  per 

flask 


1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 


7,723 
27,779 
20,000 
22,284 
30,004 
33,000 
30,000 
28,204 
31,000 
13,000 
10,000 
35,000 
42,000 
40,531 
47,489 
53,000 
46,550 
47,000 
47,728 
33,811 
30,077 
31,686 
31,621 
27,642 
27,756 
50,250 
75,074 
79,396 
63,880 
73,684 
59,926 
60,851 
52,732 
46,725 
31,913 
32.073 
29,981 
33,760 
33,250 


$768,052 
1,859,248 
1,166,600 
1,235,648 
1.663,722 
1,767,150 
1,549,500 
1,374,381 
1,482.730 
820.690 
535.500 
1.471,750 
1,526,700 
1,705.544 
2.179,745 
2,432,700 
2,473,202 
2,157,300 
2,190,715 
1,551,925 
1,725,818 
1,999,387 
2,084,773 
2.220.482 
2.919,376 
4,228,538 
3,303,256 
2,961,471 
2,101,652 
2,194,674 
1,857,706 
1,815,185 
1.488.624 
1.343.344 
973.347 
986,245 
1,064,326 
1.430,749 
1,413,125 


$99  45 
66  93 
58  33 
55  45 
55  45 
53  55 
51  65 
48  73 
47  83 
63  13 
53  55 
42  05 

36  35 
42  08 
45  90 
45  90 
53  13 
45  90 
45  90 
45  90 
57  38 
63  10 
65  93 
80  33 

105  18 
84  15 
44  00 

37  30 
32  90 
29  85 
31  00 

29  83 
28  23 
28  75 

30  50 
30  75 
35  50 
42  38 
42  50 


1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

Totals 


26,464 
22,926 
22,904 
27,993 
30,164 
30,416 
36,104 
30,765 
26,691 
31,092 
29,454 
26,317 
26,720 
29,552 
32.094 
*28.876 
24.655 
19.516 
17.379 
18.039 
16.217 
17,665 
19,109 
20,600 
15,661 
11,373 
14,199 
21,427 
24,382 
22,621 
15,200 
10,278 
3,157 
3.466 
5.458 
7.948 
7,683 


$1,190,880 

1,203,615 

1,036,406 

1,139,595 

1,108,527 

934,000 

1,337,131 

1,075,449 

993,445 

1,188,626 

1.405.045 

1,182.786 

1,285,014 

1,276,524 

1,335,954 

1,086.323 

886.081 

712.334 

663.178 

763.520 

773.788 

799.002 

879,205 

866,024 

630,042 

557,846 

1.157.449 

2.003,425 

2.396.466 

2.579.472 

1,353.381 

775.527 

140.666 

191.851 

332.851 

543,080 

621,831 


$45  00 
52  50 
45  25 
40  71 

36  75 
30  70 

37  04 

34  96 

37  28 

38  23 

47  70 

44  94 

48  46 

43  20 
42  25 

37  62 

35  94 

36  50 

38  16 
42  33 
47  71 

45  23 

46  01 
42  04 
40  23 

49  05 
81  52 
93  50 
98  29 

114  03 
89  04 
75  45 

44  56 
55  35 
60  98 
68  33 
80  81 


2,213,539 


$108,531,119 


•Flasks  of  75  lbs.  since  June,  1904;  of  76>i  lbs.  previously. 


SILVER. 


Bibliography:   State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VIII,   XII-XXII 
(inc.).    Bulletins  G7,  91.    :\lin.  &  Sci.  Press,  March  1,  1919. 

Except  for  the  early-day  production  from  the  silver  mines  of  the 

jCalieo   district    and   the   more    recent    production    from   those    of   the 

Randsburg  area,  both   of  which   are  in  San  Bernardino   County,   the 

recovery  of  silver  in  California  has  lieen  largely  a.s  a  ])y-product  from 

its  as.sociation  with  copper,  lead,  zinc,  and  gold  ores. 

The  1925  silver  output  of  California  totaled  3,054,416  fine  ounces, 
valued  at  $2,106,871  compared  with  3,555,153  fine  ounces  valued  at 


56 


MINERAL    INDUSTlii'    OF    CALIKOUNIA. 


!|^2,381,952  in  1924.  Of  the  1925  yield,  $12,894  was  from  placers.  The 
average  price  of  domestic  silver  during  1925  was  69.4^  per  ounce  in 
New  York,  as  against  67^  in  1925,  and  $1.00  in  1921-1928  under  the 
Pittman  Act.  The  figures  l)elow  are  those  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines, 
Department  of  C^ommerce  (as  explained  under  Gold). 


Prices  of 
BAR,  SILVER, 

BaUion,  999  Fine; 

at  New  York  City 

Cents  per  Troy  Ounce  ~ 


CTio^CTjo^CTjcr.^^        ^       ►%        O        •->        <        "^       O 
From   Engineering-  and   Mining  Journal-Press,    April    3.    1926. 

The  distribution  of  the  1925  silver  yield,  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 


Silver   Production,   by   Counties,   1925. 


County.  Fine  ounces. 

Alpine 2 

Amadcr 23,232 

Butte 6,274 

Calaveras 11,994 

Del    Norte 2 

El    Dorado 343 

Fresno 217 

Humboldt 90 

Inyo 169,688 

Kern    10,742 

Lassen 34 

L,os    Angeles 22,254 


Madera 
Marinosa 
]Merced    _. 

Mono 

Monterey 
Napa 


118 
2,533 

2 
2,291 

4 
2,046 


Value. 

$1 

16,123 

4,354 

8,324 

1 

238 

151 

62 

117,763 

7,455 

24 

15,444 

82 

1,758 

1 

1,590 

3 

1,420 


County.  Fine  ounces. 

Nevada 46,333 

Orange    1,433 

Placer 893 

Plumas 423,997 

Riverside    3,703 

Sacramento 2,767 

San   Bernardino 1,986,155 

San    Diego 83 

San  Luis  Obispo 10 

Shasta 300,890 

Sierra    

Siskiyou    

Stanislaus    

Trinity    

Tuolumne 

Yuba 


12,852 

1,198 

1,000 

11,129 

885 

9,222 

Value. 

32,155 

995 

620 

294,254 

2,570 

1,920 

1,378,392 

58 

7 

208.818 

8,919 

831 

694 

7,724 

614 

6,400 


Totals 3,054,416      $2,119,765 


The  following  paragraphs  are  (luoted  from  the  V .  S.  Bureau  of  Mines. 
Department  of  Commerce,  Advance  Cliapter  on  fiold  and  Silver  for 
J925,  by  courtesy  of  ^Ir.  J.  ^F.  Plill,  statistician  in  charge  of  the  San 
Francisco  branch  office : 

"The  production  of  silver  in  1925  was  3,054,416  ounces,  valued  at  $2,119,765,  a 
decrease  of  14  per  cent  in  quantity  and  11  per  cent  in  value  as  compared  with  1924. 
Four  counties  produced  over  100,000  ounces  of  silver  in  1925,  namel.v,  San  Bernardino 
with    1,986,155    ounces    largely    from    silver    ore    produced    by    the    California    Rand 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


57 


Silver  (Inc.),  Plumas  County  with  423,997  ounces  largely  produced  from  copper 
ores  of  the  Engels  and  Walker  mines,  Shasta  County  with  300,890  ounces  largely 
from  copper  and  zinc  ores,  and  Inyo  County  with  169,688  ounces,  most  of  which 
was  from  lead  ores.  The  next  largest  siher  production  was  46,333  ounces  from 
Nevada  County  gold  ores,  followed  by  23,232  ounces  from  Amador  County  gold  ores. 

"The  yield  of  silver  from  placer  mines  in  1025  was  18,579  ounces,  an  increase  of 
11  per  cent  as  compared  with  i;i24  and  0.61  per  cent  of  the  total  silver  output  of 
the  State.  Of  the  3,035,837  ounces  of  silver  produced  at  deep  mines  in  1925,  silver 
ore  and  tailings  yielded  66  per  cent,  copper  ore  and  tailings  23  per  cent,  lead  ore  6 
per  cent,  zinc  ore  and  lead-zinc  ore  each  1  per  cent,  and  gold  ore  and  tailings  3 
per  cent.  There  were  decreases  in  production  of  silver  in  all  the  more  important 
silver-producing  counties  except  Plumas,  which  increased  its  production  of  silver  by 
54,491  ounces.  San  Bernardino  County  produced  299,812  ounces  less,  Shasta  County 
211,651  ounces  less,  and  Inyo  Countj-  3,146  ounces  less  silver  than  in  1924. 

■'Silver  production  at  45  properties  was  in  excess  of  1,000  ounces  in  1925  and 
these  mines  yielded  98  per  cent  of  the  total  silver  produced  in  the  State.  At  30 
properties  the  vield  was  between  1.000  and  10.000  ounces,  at  11  between  10,000  and 
60,000,  at  3  between  100,000  and  300,000,  and  at  1  mine  in  excess  of  1,000,000  ounces 
in  1925.  The  10  largest  silver  producers  in  1925,  in  order  of  output,  were  the  Cali- 
fornia Rand  Silver  (Inc.),  U.  S.  Smelting,  Refining  &  Mining  Co.  (Mammoth  mines), 
Walker  Mining  Co.,  Engels  Copper  Mining  Co.,  Tecopa  Consolidated  Mining  Co., 
Shorey  Tailings  Plant.  Mulcahy  Bro.«.,  Cerro  Gordo  Mines  Co.,  California  Zinc  Co., 
and  the  Empire  ^Mines  Co." 

Silver  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  amount  ami  value  of  the  silver  productiou  of  California,  and 
the  average  price,  annually,  since  1880  are  given  in  the  table  following. 
In  the  table  shown  in  the  statistical  bulletins  previous  to  this  present 
Bulletin  97  (for  1925),  the  values  shown  for  1880-190-4  (inc.)  were 
taken  from  the  reports  of  the  Director  of  the  ]\Iint,  of  which  the 
ligures  for  1880-1896  (inc.)  were  based  on  'coinage  value'  ($1.2929 
per  fine  ounce).  We  haA'e  recalculated  these  to  commercial  value,  using 
the  price  table  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  (]\[cCaskey,  H.  D.,  Gold 
and  Silver,  1913 :  ^lineral  Resources  of  the  F.  S.,  Part  1,  p.  8-17).  Prom 
1905  to  date,  the  figures  are  those  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  and 
its  successor,  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines. 


ViMi-  Fine  oz. 

isso 882,169 

KSl 580,091 

issii 6.53,569 

1SS3 1,129,244 

1>>;4 3,236,987 

IS85 1,986,260 

1886 1,24.5,747 

1887 1.262,282 

1888 1,314,874 

HS9 823,947 

isiio 820,.S30 

iS91 737,224 

\sn 358,575 

18H3 415,468 

1MJ4 229,896 

IS'15 4«3.911 

l>!m 326,757 

18!)7 7.54,648 

1898 701,788 

18!)9 855,869 

liiDO 1,168,157 

liMJl 050,831 

11102 1,163,041 

1:m)3 958,230 


Average 

price 

Value 

per  oz. 

$1,014,404 

$1 

15 

655,503 

13 

745,069 

14 

1,253,461 

11 

3.593,056 

11 

2,125,298 

07 

1,233,290 

0 

99 

1,237,036 

0 

98 

1,235,982 

0 

94 

774,510 

0 

94 

861.353 

1 

05 

729,852 

0 

99 

311,960 

87 

324,065 

78 

144,8.^4 

63 

.■-■,(11, 54  2 

65 

222.105 

68 

452,78il 

60 

414,055 

59 

513,521 

60 

724,257 

62 

570,499 

60 

616,412 

53 

517,444 

54 

Year  Fine  oz. 

1004 1,441,259 

1005 1,076,174 

1906 1,220,641 

1907 1,138,856 

1008 1.647,278 

1009 2,098.253 

1910 1,840,085 

1911 1.270,445 

1912 1,300.136 

1913 1,378,399 

1914 1,471,859 

1015 1,678,7.56 

1916 2.-564,354 

1917 1.775.431 

1918 1,427,711 

1919 1.107,189 

1920 1,706,327 

1921 3,629,223 

1922 3,100,065 

1923 3,559,443 

1924 3,555,133 

1925 3,054,416 

Totals     _-  66,061,334 


Averi^e 

price 

Value 

per  oz. 

$835,929 

58 

650,009 

61 

817,830 

68 

751,646 

66 

873,057 

53 

1,091,092 

52 

993.646 

54 

673,336 

53 

799,584 

615 

832,553 

604 

813,938 

553 

851,129 

507 

1,687,345 

658 

1,462,955 

824 

1,427,711 

1  00 

1.240,051 

1  12 

1,859,896 

1  09 

3,629,223 

1  00 

3,100,065 

1  00 

2.918,743 

82 

2,381,952 

67 

2,119,765 

694 

$52,383,932 

TIN. 
HibJiography:  Reports  XV,  XVII,  XVIII.    Bulletins  67,  91. 

Tin  is  not  at  present  produced  in  California;  but  during  1891-1892, 
tiiere  was  some  output  from  a  small  deposit  near  Corona,  in  Riverside 
County,  as  tabulated  below.  Small  cpiantities  of  stream  tin  have  been 
found  in  some  of  the  placer  workings  in  northern  California,  but  never 
in  paying  amounts. 


58  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Two  occurrences  have  also  been  noted,  in  northern  San  Diego  County. 
Crystals  of  cassiterite  were  found  there,  associated  with  blue  tourmaline 
crystals,  aniblytifonite  and  ])eryl.  No  commercial  quantity  has  been 
developed,  onl.y  small  pockets  have  been  taken  out. 

The  i>rincipal  sources  of  the  world's  supply  of  tin  are  the  Islands  of 
Hanka,  Billiton  and  Singkep,  NctJierlands  India  (Dutch  East  Indies), 
followed  by  the  Federated  Malay  >States  (Perak,  Pahang,  Negri  Sem- 
bilan  and  Sclangor).  Bolivia,  Siam,  Cornwall,  Transvaal,  New  South 
Wales,  Queensland  and  Tasmania  are  also  important  sources.  A 
measurable  amount  of  the  metal  is  also  recovered  by  detinning  scrap 
and  old  cans.  A  recent  press  bulletin  (July  23,  1926)  of  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Mines  states  that  more  than  1000  long  tons  of  old  tin  cans 
were  detinned  in  1925,  yielding  a  recovery  of  nearly  25  pounds  of  tin 
per  ton  of  cans. 

Total  Output  of  Tin   in   California. 

Year  Poioirfs  Value 

1891     125,289  $27,564 

1892     126,000                  32,400 


Totals 251,289  $59,96  4 

TUNGSTEN. 

Bibliography:  Reports  XV,  XVII,  XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  67,  91,  95. 
U.  S.  G.  S.  Bull.  652.  Proc.  Colo.  Sci.  Soc.  Vol.  XI.  South 
Dakota  School  of  IMines,  Bulletin  No.  12.  Eng.  and  ]\Iin.  Jour.- 
Press,  Vol.  113,  pp.  666-669,  Apr.  22,  1922. 

The  commercial  production  of  tungsten  ores  and  concentrates  in 
California  began  in  1905 ;  and  has  been  continuous  since,  with  the 
exception  of  1920-1922  (inclusive),  when  the  mines  Avere  shut  down  ? 
owing  to  low  prices  due  to  excess  stocks  following  the  war  and  to  lack  1 
of  tariff  protection  against  foreign  importations.  Production  was 
resumed  on  a  small  scale  late  in  1923,  and  has  now  practically  regained 
its  pre-war  average  annual  tonnage,  though  the  1925  figures  are  about 
25  per  cent  less  than  those  for  1924. 

The  material  shipped  in  1925  included  both  high-grade  sorted  ore 
and  concentrates,  coming  from  properties  in  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino 
counties.  A  total  of  8619  tons  of  all  grades  was  reported  produced, 
and  in  part  concentrated,  vielding  573  tons  recalculated  to  60%  WO., 
valued  at  a  total  of  $3-18,471. 

Prices  during  1925  ranged  rather  regularly  from  $9  per  unit,  duty 
paid,  for  Chinese  wolframite  in  January,  to  $12  in  December ;  with 
domestic  scheelite  commanding  SOf*  to  $1  per  unit  higher.  Present] 
(May,  1926)  prices  are  $11.75  to  $12.75  with  domestic  demand  light, 
though  curtailment  of  Chinese  supplies  is  anticipated. 

Tungsten  ore  has  been  produced  in  California  principally  in  the 
Atolia-Randsburg  district  in  San  Bernardino  and  Kern  countiesj 
followed  by  the  Bishop  district  in  Inyo  County,  with  small  amountsi 
coming  from  Nevada  County  and  from  the  district  near  (loffs,  inj 
eastern  San  Bernardino.  ^lost  of  the  California  tungsten  ore  is| 
scheelite  (calcium  tungstate),  though  wolframite  (iron-manganese 
tungstate)  and  hiibernite  (manganese  tungstate)  also  occur.  The] 
deposits  at  Atolia  are  the  largest  and  most  productive  scheelite  deposits! 
known,^  and  the  output  has  in  some  years  equaled  or  exceeded  that  ofj 

»U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.   652,  p.  32. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


59 


fei'berite  (iron  tungstate)  from  Boulder  County,  Colorado.  It.  is  inter- 
esting in  this  connection  to  note  that,  in  practically  all  other  tungsten 
producing  districts  of  the  world,  wolframite  is  the  important  con- 
stituent. 

Imports  of  foreign  tungsten  ore  and  alloys  into  the  United  States 
during  1925  amounted  to  3,089,589  pounds,  valued  at  $735,108,  com- 
pared with  79,595  pounds  valued  at  $24,981  in  1924,  and  10,362  long 
I  tons  of  ore  valued  at  $11,409,237  in  1918,  which  ores  were  duty  free  up 
i  to  September  22,  1922.  Owing  to  lack  of  protection  against  the  cheap 
1  coolie  labor  of  Asiatic  tungsten  mines,  and  the  low  market  prices,  prac- 
!  tically  all  of  the  tung-sten  mines  in  the  United  States  were  closed  down 
!  from  the  middle  of  1919  to  the  latter  part  of  1923.  Quotations  during 
I  1922  ranged  around  $2.50  i)er  unit,  up  to  September.  The  Tariff  Act 
1  of  1922  placed  a  duty  on  tungsten  ore  or  concentrates  of  45^  per  pound 
[  on  the  metallic  tungsten  contained  therein.  Duties  are  also  pro^aded 
j  for  imported  tungsten-bearing  alloys. 


Uses. 

The  metal,  tungsten,  is  used  mainly  in  the  steel  industry  and  in  the 
manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  including  the  well-known  tung- 
sten filament  lamps.  Because  of  its  resistance  to  corrosion  by  acids,  it 
is  valuable  in  making  certain  forms  of  chemical  apparatus.  Its  employ- 
ment in  tool-steel  alloys  permits  the  operation  of  cutting  tools,  such 
as  in  lathe  work,  at  a  speed  and  temperature  at  which  carbon  steel 
would  lose  its  temper — hence  the  name  'high  speed'  steels  for  these 
tungsten  alloys.  As  made  in  the  United  States,  tungsten  forms  13% 
to  20%  of  such  steels.  Some  chromium,  nickel,  col)alt,  or  vanadium 
are  sometimes  also  included.  Tungsten  compounds  are  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  colors. 

Tungsten  is  introduced  into  the  molten  steel  charge,  either  as  the 
powdered  metal  or  as  ferro-tungsten  (containing  50%-85%  tungsten), 
I  The  specific  gravity  of  the  pure  metal,  19.3-21.4,  is  exceeded  only  by 
i  platinum,  21.5 ;  iridium.  22.4 :  and  osmium,  22.5.  Its  melting  point  is 
3267°  C.  (5913°  F.).  being  higher  than  any  other  known  metal. 
Though  millions  of  tungsten  filament  lamps  are  now  made,  the  wires 
are  .so  fine  that  the  metal  they  contain  represents  but  a  few  tons  of 
tungsten  concentrates  annually. 

Total   Tungsten   Ore   Production   of  California. 

Tlie  a)iiiual  amount  and  value  of  tungsten  ores  and  concentrates 
produced  in  California  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  is  given  here- 
with, with  tonnages  recalculated  to  60%  WO3 : 


Tons  at 

Tear 

60%WO8 

1905 

57 

1906  .- 

485 

1907 

287 

1908 

105 

1909 

577 

1910 

457 

1911 

387 

1912 

572 

1913 

559 

1914 

420 

1915 

902 

Value 


$18,800 
189.100 
120.587 
37.750 
190.500 
208.245 
127.706 
206.000 
234.673 
180.575 
1.005,467 


Tear 


Tom  at 

80%WO3 


Value 


1916. 

1917. 
1918  . 
1919. 
1920  . 
1923  . 
1924. 
1925. 


Totals- 


2,270 

2.466 

1.982 

214 


34 

781 
573 


$4,571,521 

3.079.013 

2,832.222 

219,316 


19.126 

446.009 

348.475 


13,188        $14,035,081 


()() 


MINERAIj    industry    of    CALIFORNIA. 


VANADIUM. 

Bihlwgraphy:  lieport  XV.    Bulletins  67,  91.    Proc.  Colo.  Soi.  Soc, 
Vol.  XI.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  104. 

No  commercial  production  of  vanadium  has  yet  been  made  in  Cali- 
fornia. Occurrences  of  this  metal  have  been  found  at  Camp  Sifrnal. 
near  Cioffs,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  and  two  companies  at  one  time 
did  considerable  development  Avork  in  the  endeavor  to  open  up  paying 
((uniitities.  Each  had  a  mill  under  con.structi()n  in  1016,  but  ai)parently 
no  commercial  output  was  made.  Ore  carrying  the  mineral  cuprodes- 
<-loizit(^  and  rei)orted  as  assaying  4%  V.O,  "wa.s  opened  up.  Some  oiv 
('fiiTying  lead  vanadate  has  been  developed  in  the  29  Palms,  or  Washinu'- 
tnn  disti'ict,  on  the  line  between  Rivei-side  and  San  Bernardino  counties, 
but  no  shipments  reported. 

The  principal  u.se  of  vanadium  is  as  an  alloy  in  steels,  especially  in 
tool  steel,  and  in  those  varieties  where  resistance  to  repeated  strain.s  is 
required.  Present  Ncm'  York  quotations  for  vanadium  ore  are  @  60('- 
65^  per  pound  of  contained  V.O.,  (carrying  12%-18%  V.,0,,). 

ZINC. 

BiUiograplu) :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XV,  XVII  XVIII 
XX,  XXII.    Bulletins  38,  67,  91. 

Recoverable  zinc  in  ores  mined  in  California  in  1925  amounted  to 
11,546,602  pounds  valued  at  .$877,542,  compared  with  3,060.000  pound.s 
and  .$198,900  in  1924.  The  1924  output  was  marketed  entirely  in  the 
form  of  the  oxide;  but  the  major  portion  of  the  1925  yield"  (in  the 
form  of  concentrates)  was  shipped  to  Belgium  for  treatment.  A  small 
amount  of  oxide  was  marketed. 

The  average  price  per  pound  (|uoted  for  the  metal  in  1925  Avas  7.6f 
as  against  6.5^  in  1924. 


.%±rf^an^, 


U. 


i 


Prices  of 
SLAB  ZINC 

Prime  V^estcrn  Brands," 
at  St.Loais,M.o. 
Cents  per  Pound 


r^  L/i  r—  <r>  —  ro  t'' 
—  — «  —  —  r-1  r^  r-i 
0>    O^    0>     CT>     O^     O    o^ 


^      3.      ^ 
<      ~>      o 

1925 


<        -^       O 

1926 


From   Engineering  and  Mining  .lournal-Press,   April   3,    192C. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PKODL'CTIOX. 


f)l 


Tile  zinc  oris  oJ."  Sha.sta  and  Calaveras  pountie.s  arc  associated  with 
cDpper,  while  those  of  Tnyo  and  San  Bernardino  are  associated  prin- 
cipally witli  lead-silver  and  zinc-silver  ores. 

The  i)rincipal  uses  of  zinc  are  for  's'alvanizin<;'  (plating  on  iron  to 
1  prevent  rnst),  for  zinc  oxide  (n.sed  in  rnbber  t^^oods  and  paint),  and  for 
I  brass  (an  alloy  of  copper  and  zinc).  These  outlets  for  the  metal  take 
I  approximately  SO';^  of  the  quantity  produced.  Of  the  remaining  20% 
I  a  large  portion  is  rolled  into  plates  and  sheets,  and  utilized  in  the 
I  building  industry  for  sheathing,  roofing,  leaders,  and  eaves-troughs. 
j  Zinc  is  particularly  desirable  and  efficient  for  roofing  and  siding  where 
J  corrosive  gases  are  present,  as  at  smelters,  refineries  and  chemical 
plants. 


Total    Zinc    Production    of   California. 


Total  figures  for  zinc  output  of  the  state  are  as  follows,  commercial 
production  dating  back  only  to  1906: 


Tear                |     Pounds           Value 

Tear 

Pounds           Value 

1906   206,000           $12,566 

1907  -          177,759             10,598 

1917    

1918    

1919    

1920    

1921    

1922    

1923    

1924 

1925 

Totals 

11.854,801      $1,209,190 
5,565,561           506,466 
1,384,192            1IJ1,0-J6 
1,188,009            96,229 
&46,184             42,309 
3,0J«,43O           172,963 

3'o,;o,noo         los.goc 

11,546,U02             877,542 

1908   54,000              3,544 

1909   

1910   ! 

1911    2,679,842           152,751; 

1912 4,331,391           298,866, 

1913    1,157.947             64,845 

1914   399,641             20,381 

1915            —      13,043,411        1,617,383 

1916    15,950,565        2.137,375 

76,480,338         $7,522,954 

Concentrating  plant  of  California  Zinc  Company  at  Winthrop,  Shasta  County, 
rhoto  by  C.  A.  Logan. 


62  MINEKAIi    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTKR  FOUR. 

STRUCTURAL   MATERIALS. 

Bibliography:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XXII  (iuo.). 
Bulletin  38.  Spurr  and  Worinser,  "]\Iarketing  of  Metals  and 
Minerals."  "Non-Metallic  Minerals,"  l)y  R.  B.  Ladoo.  See  also 
under  eaeli  siil)stanee. 

As  indicated  lt\'  tliis  subdivision  lieading,  the  mineral  substances 
herein  considered  are  those;  more  or  less  directly  used  in  l)uilding  and 
structural  work.  California  is  independent,  so  far  as  these  are  con- 
cerned, and  almost  an}'-  reasonable  construction  can  he  made  with 
materials  produced  in  the  state.  This  branch  of  the  mineral  industry 
for  1925  was  valued  at  $53,526,995  as  compared  with  a  total  value  of 
$51,310,197  for  the  year  1924,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  cement 
and  granite. 

Deposits  of  granite,  marble  and  other  building  stones  are  distributed 
widel}^  throughout  this  state,  and  transportation  and  other  facilities 
are  gradually  being  extended  so  that  the  growing  demand  may  be  met. 
The  largest  single  item,  cement,  has  had  an  interesting  record  of  growth 
since  the  inception  of  the  industry  in  California  about  1891.  Not  until 
1904  did  the  annual  value  of  cement  produced  reach  the  million-dollar 
mark,  following  which  it  increased  500%  in  nine  years ;  though  from 
1914  to  1918  there  was  a  falling  off  common  to  all  building  materials. 
The  1925  output  establishes  a  new  high-level  mark,  in  quantity,  but  the 
total  value  was  a  little  short  of  the  record  figure  of  1923. 

Crushed  rock  production  is  yearly  becoming  more  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, due  to  the  strides  taken  in  the  use  of  concrete,  as  well  as  to 
activity  in  the  building  of  good  roads.  Brick,  with  an  average  annual 
output  for  a  number  of  years  worth  approximately  $2,000,000,  had 
difficulty  in  holding  its  own,  due  to  the  popularity  of  cement  and 
concrete.  In  1920,  however,  the  sales  increased  to  nearly  double  the 
previous  record  figure  of  the  year  1907,  and  in  1923  showed  advances 
to  new  figures,  with  a  slight  recession  in  1924  and  1925.  This  item 
will,  no  doubt,  continue  to  l)e  an  improtant  one,  and  a  market  for  fire 
and  fancy  brick  of  all  kinds  will  unquestionably  never  be  lacking. 

All  fifty-eight  counties  contril)uted  to  this  structural  total  for  1925. 
There  is  not  a  county  in  the  state  which  is  not  capable  of  some  output 
of  at  least  one  of  the  materials  under  this  classification. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


63 


The  followiiijj;'  .siiuuiiary  sli()\\s  the  value  oC  the  stnictural  materials 
produced  in  California  (lurini;-  Ihe  years  l!)24-l!)2r),  with  increases  or 
decreases  in  each  instance  : 


Substance 

1924 

1925 

Increase+ 

Deereasc — 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Bituminous  rock 

0,040  tons 

$14,922 

9,137,908 

23,225,850 

6,700 

1,211,046 

703,355 

900,183 

140,253 

3,000 
15,900,380 

* 

$7,503,976 

25,043.335 

10,912 

1,8.53,8.59 

685,528 

872,944 

116,105 

10,120 

14.302 

17,409.854 

,         _ 

Brick  and   hollow   building 
tile 

$1,633,932— 

Cement     

n,655.131  bbls. 
350  tons 

13,206,630  bbls. 
591  tons 

1,817,485+ 

Chromite 

4.212+ 
642,813+ 

Lime 

62,029  tons 
67,236  tons 
"61,579  cu.  ft. 

b 

6,700  cu.  ft. 

61,922  tons 
64.623  tons 
.35,664  cu.  ft. 
19,940  cu.  ft. 
14,704  cu.  ft. 

17.827— 
27,239— 

Marble. 

Onyx  and  travertine 

Sandstone. 

21,148— 

16.120+ 

10,762+ 

1,443,474+ 

$51,310,197 

$53,526,995 

f2,216,798+ 

*Under  'Unapportioned.' 

»  Includes  onj-x  and  travertine. 

>>  Combined  with  marble. 


ASPHALT. 

BihliograpJn/:  State  ^rineralo}.jist  Reports  VII,  X,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVil,  XVIII.     Bulletins  10,  :«,  63,  67,  69,  91. 

Asphalt  was  for  a  number  of  years  accounted  for  in  the  statistical 
reports  liy  the  State  IMining-  Bureau,  because  in  the  earl>'  days  of  the 
oil  industry,  considerable  asphalt  was  produced  from  outcroppings  of 
oil  sand,  and  was  a  separate  industry  from  the  production  of  oil  itself. 
However,  at  the  present  time  most  of  the  asphalt  comes  from  the  oil 
refineries,  which  produce  a  better  and  more  uniform  grade;  hence,  its 
value  is  not  now  included  in  the  mineral  total,  as  to  do  so  would  be  in 
part  a  duplication  of  the  crude  petroleum  figures.  Such  natural  asphalt 
as  is  at  present  mined  is  in  the  form  of  liituminous  sandstones,  and  is 
recorded  under  that  designation. 

BITUMINOUS    ROCK. 

BihliofjrapJn/:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIT,  XIII,  XV,  XVII, 
XVIII,  XXI,  XXII. 

Small  amounts  of  bituminous  rock  are  still  occasionally  used  for  road 
dressing  in  those  districts  adjacent  to  available  deposits,  though  the 
manufacture  of  a.sphalt  at  the  oil  refineries  has  almost  eliminated  the 
direct  use  of  the  native  material.  As  there  was  only  a  single  operator 
in  1925,  the  figures  are  concealed  under  the  'Unapportioned'  item. 

This  material  is  essentially  an  uneemented  sandstone  which  is  satu- 
rated with  and  held  together  l)y  a  natural  asphaltic  eon.stituent 
probal)ly  the  i-esidue  from  the  evaporation  of  a  crude  petroleum  deposit. 


CA 


MIXKl.'AL    IXni  STKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Bituminous   Rock   Production   of  California,  by   Years. 

Tlie  following  tabulation  .shows  the  total  amount  and  value  of 
bituminous  I'ock  quarried  and  sold  in  California,  from  the  records 
compiled  by  the  State  IMining  Bureau,  annually  since  1887 : 


Tear 

Tons 

1887  

36,000 

1888     ._ 

50,000 

1889  

40,000 

1890  

40,000 

1891  

39,962 

1892  

24,000 

1893 

32,000 

1894       -   -- 

31,214 

1895 

38,921 

1896 

49,456 

1897  -   - 

45.470 

1898    „     

46,8.36 

1899  

40.321 

1900  

25,306 

1901        -  

24,052 

1902  -.      -- 

33,490 

1903          --  - 

21,944 

1904  

45,280 

1905  

24,753 

1906    ..  __  

16.077 

1907  

24,122 

Value 


257 
170, 
170, 
154, 

72, 
192, 
115, 
121, 
122, 
128, 
137, 
116, 

71, 

66. 

43. 

53. 
175, 

60, 

45. 

72 


000 
000 
000 
000 
164 
OOO 
036 
193 
586 
500 
173 
575 
097 
495 
.3.14 
411 
106 
680 
436 
,204 
,835 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924_ 

192.-)- 


Totals- 


;i0,718 

$109,818 

34,123 

116,436 

87,^17 

165.711 

75,125 

117,279 

44,073 

87,467 

37,541 

78,479 

66.119 

166,618 

17,789 

61.468 

19,449 

66,561 

5.590 

18,580 

2,.561 

9,067 

4.614 

18.537 

5.450 

27.825 

8.298 

43,192 

4.624 

13.5-0 

2.945 

11,780 

G.040 

14.022 

» 

1. LSI. 810 

$3,632,1.%-. 

*Coneealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 

BRICK    and    HOLLOW    TILE. 

Bibliography:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  VIII,  X,  XII-XV 
(inc.),  XVII-XXII  (inc.).  Bulletin  38.  Preliminary  Report, 
No.  7.    Cal.  Jour,  of  Development,  June,  1925,  pp.  5-6. 

Bricks  of  many  varieties  and  in  important  quantities  are  annually 
produced  in  California,  as  might  be  expected  in  a  state  with  such 
diversified  and  widespread  mineral  resources.  The  varieties  include 
common,  fire,  pressed,  glazed,  enamel,  fancy,  vitrified,  sandJime,  and 
others.  Not  only  do  the  plants  here  supply  practically  all  of  our  own 
requirements  in  these  products,  but  considerable  quantities  are  shipped 
to  contiguous  territory  and  certain  products  are  shipped  over  a  mucli 
Avider  radius.  So  far  a.s  possible,  the  different  kinds  have  been  segre- 
gated in  the  tabulation  herewith  accompanying. 

We  also  include  under  this  heading  the  various  forms  of  hollow 
Iniilding  'tile'  or  blocks.  The  application  of  these  tile  to  residence 
construction  as  well  as  to  other  structures  is  growing;  though  their 
total  for  1925  shows  a  slight  drop  from  the  figure  of  1924. 

The  aggregate  value  of  all  kinds  of  brick  in  1925  shows  a  decrea.se 
of  approximately  18%  from  that  of  1921,  due  mainly  to  a  drop  in  the 
sales  of  common  brick  in  the  L(xs  Angeles  district.  The  total  of  glazed, 
pressed,  fancy,  vitrified,  paving,  and  sand-lime  In-ick  also  showed  a 
decrease;  while  fire-brick  advanced. 

The  detailed  figures  of  brick  and  hollow  tile  production  for  1925  by 
counties  are  given  in  the  following  tabulation.  'Production'  in  this 
case  means  stalea  of  product  of  California  manufacture;  and  'value'  is 
net  price  at  the  works,  f.  o.  b.  cars,  trucks  or  boats. 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL    PKODUCTION. 


65 


c^  -rM 

^  o  1—  »c  ro  r^  n      CO      '.o      ic      co 

to 

IC  r^  1^  CJ  C-  tC  :C  <M  00  to        1  -        00        C5        o 

i^_^_r^cn  00  js  — ^t^_-.*«_o      o      'j'^      as_     i- 

^. 

(M'or-':D00*!O  co>o  "C  ^'      <r*      -f'      r-      !C 

3   3 

00  00  -^  (M  OT  U5  O  O  t~  <C        O        OO        -J        '^ 

o 

^1 

fe" 

oo     i     -     i     ito     1                  i         !      to 

o 

I^      1      ,      .      1 O      •            1            '            '        o 

OJ 

lO^ 

bC 

-H 

50      '      1      I      1 00      1           !           I           1       eC 

e^                   -<                                    «~- 

i-i 

> 

S  ;  ;  ;  ;     ;     ;     ;     :    "" 

o_ 

'3-^ 

»  o 

1 

iO     ^                 ■»r      i                     i           i       c^ 

^ 

•I.     .                  to     ,                                1       oo 

en 

"55 

c 

-'•-    !               — '     !                  ;         !      oo 

lO 

c 

*    « 

^   ; »  »  »        ;      .      ;      ;    -c 

o 

H 

t~    1 

N    1    !    ;    1    !    1               '■     la 

-* 

>, 

U5      1 

"5 o 

0) 

o     ■ 

^^        1       » C33 

^ 

1  " 

_3 

«>'   1 

"    1    !    1    •    !    1        1        1     •-" 

•* 

"3                   I                                   ■^* 

> 

era   ;   ;   1   ;   1   1       ;       ,    co 

1"1 

«»    ; 

^ 

o-a 

a,| 

s 

00 

ai                ','.'.'.        \     t-~ 

'*' 

•o  i; 

r- 

>o                 ',    \    '.        \        \      a 

■^, 

3 

■"1-' 

s"»  »        i    1    i       i       ■     ~ 

»c 

S'"" 

CO 

5 

e 

1 

lO      1 

ty.     .oo     •     ■     .     i          .to 

to 

C5        > 

•o     .to 00 

o 

o 

«    . 

»      .CO_     .      .      1      1            .        "»■_ 

13 

(N*    I  CO    I    ;    I    I        !      '^*        ! 

o" 

"a 

0=    ! 

CT>                        ,                                 oo 

trs   ;       1    .    ■    ,       ,00 

to_ 

> 

»»    1 

£; 

1 

£ 

s 

■re 

in,    lo     1         1    i         1      —         1 

„ 

CO 

c= 

to      !           1           '1           '       CO_           i 

co" 

5 

a      [         1  *      !     I         I      '^          I 

Oi 

e 

< 

't-COC-OC^iOCO^O         CO              L              1 

to 

t^  r^  CO  c^  00  ^  iM  oo  lO      t- 

to 

V 

.  ^_^t^  «D  00  »c  »— _i^  r- o^      c^         1         i 

zl 

to'l^-s-'oo-ro'co  »ff  :d'^'      cr^          '          ' 

oo^c»occ«ca:Otcto      o 

> 

!  e^      t^       (M      ^       oi       CO          ,          1 

CO 

^ 

'           •— T                                               ' 

co' 

o 

«^ 

a 
s 

o 

s 

0000  —  OOCO  — (^>00        00            1            1 

C55 

O 

^jt  a:  i^  CO  CO  00  oo  o  »o      CO         * 

■<** 

ot^I^c^lc^a:oc^'^^      oo 

**- 

'^ 

'o  ■o"crco'i--'i-'oo'-cr;*'    — "      ;       ; 

t^ 

CT5 

i 

B 

< 

;   :      :::;!::  c   :  (3   ',  c   :  o' 

' 

■       3rS     '  M     ■  s 

— 'Ch^       ■    *-       '    ^ 

I       1       1       1       '       !       !■—      -  CJ       !    Ci       I    C3 

S;  s-S    .«3    .CO 

;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  S-s-s  ; ,;  :  o 

i  :  ;  :  i  i  ;:s^S  i*  :» 

i  ;  i  i  ;  :  illt  :«  :« 

:;;;;;;  ss  1  ;  sf  ;  fc 

>, 

c 

ihliii^^^ilii 

3 
o 

iMiiiiiiiiiii 

:  i : :  i  i  ii^s'-  'i'i'^,B 

:  \  \  \  '  \  ;  3_-£-  :  ,-25  5 
;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  :«§§  :£3§c 
t-'i-o  •  s—o"" 

'     '     !    !         '  oji  ^     'i-c.-c 

;:::■«  i-i^S  :^-,^2^ 

.      .            ■      ■   "^      ,   P   <-*   C          «     •  ^ 

'     ^ 

s  5  = 

^ 
^ 

' 

^£!£-2S5ss5="*E~--'-=='-'' 

-<'-L.:ji 

-J  c  ■/.  v:  X  •/:  y.  <    <    w    < 

3-^:= 


-4V.S1,S 


66 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


67 


Brick  and   Hollow  Tile  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Record  of  brick  production  in  the  .state  has  been  kept  since  1893  by 
this  Bureau;  the  figures  for  hollow  building  'tile'  or  blocks  being  also 
included  since  1914.  The  annual  and  total  figures,  for  amount  and 
value,  are  given  in  the  following  table: 


Year 

Brick.  M 

Hollow 

building 

blocks,  tons 

Value 

Igq.S                                                            .              ._ 

103.900 
81.675 
131.772 
24.000 
97.468 
100,102 
125,950 
137.191 
130,766 
169,851 
214,403 
281.750 
286,618 
277,762 
362,167 
332.872 
333,846 
340,883 
327,474 
337,233 
358,754 
270.79] 
180.538 
206.960 
192,269 
136,374 
1.56.328 
245,842 
.       2.38,022 
374,853 
397.754 
456,716 
361,094 

$801,750 

1894                                                                                _.     

457.125 

1895                                             

672,360 

1896                                                             

524,740 

1897                                                                   -      -  

563,240 

1898                                      -        --    

571,362 

1899 

754,730 

1900                                                                      

905,210 

1901                                                                   ...    

860,488 

1902                                                                     -      

1,306,215 

1903                                                                     .        

1,999,546 

190/1                                                                            

1.994.740 

1905                                                                 

2.273,786 

1906                                                                          

2,.538,848 

1907                                                                      

3.4.38,951 

1908                                                                           -    .— 

2..506.495 

1909                                                          --      

3.0.59.929 

1910                                                                        _          

2.934.731 

2.6.38.121 

1912                                                                 ..      .      -      . 

2,940.290 

2.915.3.50 

1914                                        ..     ....      .     .. 

2.288.227 

1.678.756 

1916                             .-      ... 

2.096.570 

29,348 

34.818 

36.026 

99,208 

67,100 

105.909 

122,534 

114,469 

105,491 

2,532,721 

1918         -      -    --      -    

2.363.481 

3.087.067 

1920                             -                  

5,704,393 

5,570,875 

1922                 .      .      

7,994.991 

9,738,082 

1924   

9.137,908 
7,503,976 

7  77.3,978 

714.903 

$96,355,054 

CEMENT. 

Bihliograplnj:   State  Mineralogist  Reports  VIII,   IX,   XII,   XIV, 
XV,  XVII,  XVIII,  XXT,  XXI T,  Bulletin  38. 

Cement  is  the  most  important  single  structural  material  in  tlie 
mineral  output  of  this  .state.  During  1925,  there  was  produced  a  total 
of  13,206,630  barrels,  valued  at  $25,043,335  f .  o.  1).  plant.  This  is  an 
increase  of  1,551,499  ])arrels  over  the  record  figure  of  11,655,131  liarrels 
in  1924,  and  an  increase  of  $1,817,530  over  the  1924  value  of  $23,225,850, 
but  still  a  little  short  of  the  record  value  of  $25,999,203  in  1923.  The 
market  in  1925  recovered  to  some  extent  from  the  effect  of  foreign 
im])ortation.s  duty-free,  which  caused  the  drop  in  1924.  hut  the  effect 
had  not  wholly  disappeared. 

The  1925  outi)ut  came  from  ten  ()])i'rating  plants  in  eight  counties, 
and  employing  a  total  of  31 6()  men.  The  three  plants  in  San  Bernar- 
dino ("oiintv  made  a  total  of  5,()79,2S1  l)ai"rel.s  valued  at  $8,828,044,  the 


fiS 


MIXKKAl;     INDrs'l'KV     <tl'    (  ALI  I'OKXIA. 


l)alan('('  of  tlu'  statr's  pi-odnct  i-oiiiinL;-  I'l-om  a  single  plant  in  oaeli  of 
the  foUowinj?  counties:  ('oiitra  ('osta,  Ki'i'ii.  Ixiverside,  San  Benito, 
San  ^Fatco,  Santa  Cniz,  and  Solano.  Tlie  new  i)lant  of  the  Pacific 
Portland  Cenient  Company  at  Redwood  City,  San  Mateo  County,  began 
connnei'cial  production  in  192").  For  102(),  the  plant  of  the  Calaveras 
Cement  Company  has  been  completed  near  San  Andreas,  Calaveras 
County,  and  has  joined  tlie  ])i'oducino'  list. 

Cement    Production    of   California,    by    Years. 

'Portland'  cement  was  fii'st  commercially  produced  in  California  in 
1891  ;  though  in  1860  and  for  several  years  following,  a  natural 
hydraulic  cement  from  Benicia  was  utilized  in  l)uildin,u'  operations  in 
San  Francisco. 

^  "The  Benicia  Cement  Company  in  1859-GO  wa.s  turning  out  50  to  100  barrels  of 
cement  a  day  and  San  Francisco  was  using  about  12,000  barrels  a  year.  The  mill  price 
of  the  product  was  then  $4  a  barrel.  By  1865,  the  San  Francisco  rate  of  consumption 
had  increased  to  100,000  barrels  yearly,  brick  buildings  largely  taking  the  place  of 
frame  structures,  and  the  price  of  cement  had  fallen  to  $2.50  a  barrel,  about  the 
same  as  it  is  today." 

The  growth  of  the  industry  became  rapid  after  1902;  since  which 
time  cement  has  continued  to  be  an  important  factor  in  the  industrial 
life  of  the  state.  Although  the  total  cement  figures,  to  date,  are  not 
of  the  same  magnitude  as  those  for  gold  and  petroleum,  it  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  value  of  California's  cement  yield  beginning  with 
1920  has  since  annually  exceeded  the  value  of  her  gold  output. 

Annual  production  of  cement  in  California  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 


1891  , 

1892  , 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 


Barrels 


5,000 
5,000 


8,000 

16,383 

9,500 

18,000 

50,000 

60,000 

52,000 

71,800 

171,000 

640,868 

969,538 

1,265,553 

1,286,000 

1,613,568 

1,629,615 


Value 


$15,000 
15,000 


1909 i      3.779,205 


21,600 

32,556 

28,250 

66,000 

150,(Ki0 

180,000 

121,000 

159.842 

423,600 

968,727 

1,539.807 

1,791,916 

1.941,250 

2,585,577 
2,359,1)92 
4.969.437 


Year 


Barrels 


Value 


1910 1      5,453,193 


1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
19-20 
1921 
1922 


6.371,369 
6,198,634 
6.167.806 
5.109,218 
4,918,275 
5,299,507 
5,790.734 
4.772.921 
4,645,289 
6,7(.i9.160 
7,404.221 
8.962.135 


1923 10,825,405 

11924 I    li.(;5r,.i3i 

'  192.") 13.206,630 


$7,485,715 

9,085,625 

6.074.661 

7,743,024 

6.558.148 

6.014.950 

6,210.293 

7.544.282 

7.969,909 

8.591.990 

14.962,945 

18.072,120 

16.524.(1.56 

25.999.203 

23.225.850 

25.043.335 


Totals 125.140.653 


$314,505,350 


CHROMITE. 

Bihlio(jr<iplnj:   State   :\lineralouist   Reports   IV.   XTI,   XITI,  XIV, 

XV,  XVil.   XVIII,   XXI.   XXII.      Bidletins  88.   76,   91.  Pre- 

liminarv  Report  8.     V.  S.  C.  S.,  P>ull.  4.80.     Min.  ^^-  Sei.  Press. 
Vol.  111.  p.  552. 

Chromic   iron   ore,   or   chromite,   to   the   amount   of   191   short   tons, 
recalculated  to  a  basis  of  45',    Cr^O..,  valued  at  $3,712  f.o.b.  shipping 

'  Mimllily  U.view.  of  .M.  icantilc  Trust  Cn.  of  C:.l..  Vol.  XIII.  No.  ."?,  p.  55.  Mar.  1924. 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL    PKODUCTIOX.  69 

})oint,  was  sold  in  California  during  the  year  1925.  Tiiis  was  largely 
of  ore  that  had  been  mined  during  the  World  War  period  but  not  then 
M)ld.  It  is  lioi)ed  that  the  develojuiient  of  the  steel  industry  and  the 
i-csuniption  of  copper  smelting  on  tlie  Pacific  Coast  may  create  some  • 
(iemand  for  Califoi'uia's  chi-iiiiiiti'.  but  1lie  DUthtok  for  the  immediate 
future  is  not  encouraging. 

With  reference  to  the  War  Minerals  J^4ief  l)ills  and  tlieir  aduiinistra- 
lion  in  which  the  chromite  producers  are  particularly  interested,  under 
the  Shortridge  amendment  of  1921  and  under  indirect  or  published 
stimulation  as  distinguished  from  direct  personal  demand,  there  has 
been  paid  to  claimants  principally  iu  western  states  more  than  five 
million  dollars;  while  under  the  act  of  March  2,  191!),  which  has  been 
so  construed  as  to  limit  recoveries  to  losses  induced  by  direct  personal 
demand,  there  has  lieen  jiaid  about  two  million.  Certain  rejected 
Icsses  now  being  litigated  are  principally  in  claims  under  the  original 
act,  though  there  are  many  claimants  i[ualified  under  the  Shortridge 
iimendment  who  will  lie  entitled  to  relief  in  the  event  the  litigation  is 
favorable  to  the  claimants,  or  in  the  event  further,  pending  legislation 
i^Oddie's  Senate  Bill  'MHD  is  enacted. 

Occurrence. 

Cntil  191  (i,  wlien  some  shipments  were  made  from  Oregon  and 
smaller  amounts  from  Maryland,  Wyoming  and  AVashington,  practi- 
cally our  only  domestic  production  of  chromite  for  many  years  came 
I  rom  California.  From  1820  to  1860  the  deposits  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  supplied  the  world's  consumi)tion. 

Chromite  is  widely  distributed  in  California,  the  principal  ])roduc- 
tion,  thus  far,  having  come  fnmi  FA  Dorado.  San  Luis  Obispo,  Del 
\orte,  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Placer,  Fresno,  and  Tuohunne  counties.  In 
1918  a  total  of  29  counties  contributed  to  the  state's  output.  There  are 
iwo  main  belts  in  California  yielding  this  mineral,  one  along  the  Coast 
lianges  from  San  Luis  Obispo  County  to  the  Oregon  line,  including  the 
Klamath  ^Mountains  at  the  north  end,  and  the  other  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada  from  Tulare  County  to  Plumas  Count.v.  Chromite  occurs  as 
lenses  in  basic  igneous  rocks  such  as  peridotite  and  pyroxenite,  and  in 
sirpentines  which  have  been  derived  by  alteration  of  such  basic  rocks. 
For  theimost  part,  so  far  as  developments  have  yet  shown,  the  lenses 
have  proved  to  be  small,  relatively  few  of  them  yielding  over  100  tons 
apiece.  A  notable  exception  to  this  was  the  deposit  on  Little  Castle 
Creek,  neai-  Dunsnuiir.  from  which  upwards  of  15,000  tons  was  shipped 
before  it  was  exhausted.  Deposits  worked  in  Del  Norte  Couut\-  during 
1918  promise  well  for  a  large  tonnage.  On  the  whole  the  orebodies  in 
ilie  northwestern  corner  of  the  state  aj>pear  to  average  larger  in  si/.e 
than  the  chromite  lenses  in  othei-  jiarts  of  California. 

Concentration  became  an  accom))lished  fact  in  several  localities,  thus 
utilizing  some  of  the  disseminated  and  lower-grade  orebodies  which 
liave  l)een  found.  In  fact,  an  important  part  of  the  l!)18-li)20  pro- 
duction came  from  that  source. 

Imports. 

Importations  of  foreign  chromite,  duty  fiee,  nuiinl.\-  frjin  Rhodesia. 
Xew  Caledonia,  and  India,  totaled  149.789  loui;-  tons  in  1!)25.  valued  at 
.•^1.207.420.  compared   with   118.:U:5  long  tons  and  .+1.095,60.8   in   1924. 


70 


MINERAL    INDUSTKY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Uses. 

Tlie  iiia.jor  consiunption  of  eliroiuite  ore  is  for  use  as  a  refractory 
lining  in  smelting  furnaces  for  steel  and  copper.  A  smaller  portion 
is  used  in  the  i)reparation  of  ferrochrome  for  chrome-steel  alloys,  and 
of  chroniiuiii  chemicals. 

Total   Chromite   Production   of   California. 

Production  of  chromite  in  California  began,  apparently,  about  1874, 
principally  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County.  There  was  considerable 
activity  from  1880  to  1883,  inclusive,  ancl  a  total  of  23,238  long  tons 
(or  26,028  short  tons),  valued  at  $329,924  was  shipped  from  that 
county  up  to  the  beginning  of  1887.  Some  ore  also  was  shipped  from 
the  l\yson  properties  in  Del  Norte  County.  The  tabulation  herewith 
shows  the  output  of  chromite  in  California,  annually,  including  the 
earliest  figures  so  far  as  they  are  available.  The  figures  from  1887  to 
date  are  from  the  records  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau: 


Year 


1874-1886    (San    Luis 

Obispo  Co.)  __. 

1887 


1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 


Tons 


26,028 
3,000 
1,500 
2,000 
3,599 
1,372 
1,500 
3,319 
3,680 
1.740 
786 


Value 


140 
130 
315 
150 
123 
40 
317 


$329,924 
40,000 
20,000 
30,000 
53,985 
20,580 
22,500 
49,785 
39,980 
16,795 
7.775 


1.400 
1.950 
4,725 
2,250 
1.845 
fiOO 
2,859 


Year        i 

Tons 

1907 

302 

1908 

350 

1909  

436 

1910  --   .. 

749 

1911  .. 

935 

1912 1 

1.270 

1913  .-  -. 

1,180 

1914 

1,517 

1915 .. 

3,725 

1916  

48,943 

1917 

52,379 

1918 ..  - 

73,955 

1919 

*4,314 

1920 

1,770 

1921  .   - 

347 

1922  -  

379 

1923 

84 

1924 

.S5n 

1925-.  _  

191 

Value 


$G,040 

6.195 

5.309 

9.707 

14,197 

11,260 

12.700 

9,434 

38,044 

717,244 

1,130,298 

3,649,497 

97,1&1 

43,031 

6,870 

6.334 

1.6.^8 

G,700 

■^.7l■I 


$(i,422.8!l 


*  Recalculated  to  45%  Cr,,0„  beginning  with  1919. 


Bihliography  : 
Bulletin  88. 


GRANITE. 
State  Mineralogist  Reports,  X,   XII-XXI    (inc.; 


The  value  of  the  granite  output  of  California  for  1925  was  the  highest 
recorded  for  any  year  since  the  compilation  of  these  figures  by  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  due  mainly  to  the  contract  for  the  construction  of  the 
new  Los  Angeles  County  Building.  Stone  for  'monumental'  and  deco- 
rative purposes  showed  a  decrease  in  both  quantity  and  total  value.  The 
net  result  was  an  increase  in  total  value  of  the  several  groups  from 
$1,211,046  to  $1,853,859.  We  have  included  under  this  heading  some 
rhyolite  and  tuff  utilized  for  dimension  building  stone,  as  we  have  no 
other  dimension  stone  grouping  for  statistical  purposes  in  this  report 
except  marble  and  sandstone. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  71 

I  Crushed  rock,  rubble,  and  paving  blocks  derived  from  granite  ([uar- 
I  ries  are  given  under  the  heading  of  '^liseellaneous  Stone.' 
j  So  far  as  possible,  granite  production  has  been  segregated  in  the 
table  herewith  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  product  was  put.  It 
1  will  be  noted,  however,  that  a  ])ortion  of  the  output  has  been  entered 
'•  under  the  heading  'Unclassified.'  This  is  necessary  liecause  of  the  fact 
j  that  some  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what  specific  use 
j  their  .stone  was  put  after  they  had  quarried  and  sold  the  same  in  the 
j  rough. 

Varieties. 

j  For  building  purposes,  the  granites  found  in  California,  particularly 
I  the  varieties  from  Raymond  in  Madera  County,  Rocklin  in  Placer 
County,  and  near  Porterville  in  Tulare  County,  are  unexcelled  by  any 
similar  stone  found  elsewhere.  The  (|uantities  available,  nota])ly  at 
Raymond  and  Porterville,  are  unlimited.  ]\Iost  of  California's 
'granite,'  particularly  that  found  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  iMountains,  is 
technically  'granodiorite'  (that  is,  both  plagioclase  and  orthoclase 
feldspars  are  present). 

Granites  of  excellent  (piality  for  building  and  ornamental  purposes 
are  also  (piarried  in  Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties.  Near  Lakeside, 
San  Diego  County,  there  is  a  fine-grained,  'silver  gray'  granite  of 
nnifoi-m  texture  and  color,  especially  suited  for  monumental  and 
ornamental  work. 

The  Fresno  County  stone  is  a  dark,  hornblende  diorite,  locally  called 
'black  granite,'  whose  color  permits  of  a  fine  contrast  of  i^olished  and 
unpolished  surfaces,  making  it  particularly  suitable  for  monumental 
aiul  decorative  purposes.  There  is  also  a  similar  'lilack  granite'  in 
Tulare  County,  near  Success. 


I'l 


MINEKAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


O-.0-*Cc>?r~<Mmr). 

0 

u?  -W  C^  <M  I-  —  «  — _  S_ 

3 

c; 

CO 

=D         CO  »0  0  —  01         -^ 

xn 

O 

■3 

*»              —  —  — .               C5 

oo_ 

;„    ; 

:   ;   ;   '„ 

ta 

.CO        . 

!■* 

V 

00      1 

o_ 

» 

3 

'cX    ! 

eo 

^ 

.•>  ; 

!•* 

•ii 

!« 

CO 

^ 

m 

Um 

0 

c^ 

s 

p 

£. 

;;;- 

iO 

S- 

t~ 

'£ 

!o 

50 

_3 

^ 

CO 

CO 

0 

0 

3 

■<**" 

'* 

Cl» 

w 

r^ 

M 

3 
O 

,^^ 

,_, 

^^ 

Si 

00 

0 

»-^ 

cd 

* 

■^ 

0--0<M 

00   ici   i 

Ico 

00  COO 

r^     .C3    ■ 

0 

»C-*_iO 

10     .CO     . 

■^ 

00   ;-<j*"  1 

3 

■3 

> 

S        " 

0   ;(N   ; 

CO 

■q 

ui 

1 

3 

a 

—  2° 

0   Ir*   1 

0 

10      'O      . 

o 

S 

_CJ 

o.rao 

■*    "R.   ' 

», 

■r-co'^T 

«^    i   '    ; 

,£ 

3 

c 

0 

3 

O 

u 

i     ■  0  0  »c  t^ 

Csl 

^ 

0  ira  iM  c-> 

0 

_3 

•* 

'     '^•o"'"oo- 

c 

> 

1   ;     »c)    --H 

o 

c 

CO 

o 

o» 

o 

.^ 

3 

•u 

bC 

S 

_C 

a. 

|3 

1      ira  0  0  ^ 

OS 

COOiOO 

00 

to 

"E 
2 

■3 

n 

£. 

,*         <M       -<i^ 

I^ 

XI 

5 

3 
0 

■     ■* 

1    1  0    1 

!*'  6   ! 

•   ;£^   ; 

1       <s  0 

= 

i;g^; 

C 

1    ,■   -  oT    I 

j 

era.  Placer,  Sonoma" 
vada,  Plumas,  Tular 
vada,  Placer* 

'     1     1 

I    ;  ■;-£  olzzS 

;     js 

3   CJ   t"   rt  — "  ~     -    -    ^ 

2 

^ 

.,.— S£y 

-J^  —  :^ 

.<s^ 

3  a 


OH 


i 


I 


STATISTK'8   OF    AXXfAI.    I'KODl'CTIOX. 


Granite    Production    of    California,    by    Years. 

The  value  of  granite  produced,  annually,  since  1887,  has  been  as 
follows : 


Year 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
'906 


Value 


$150,000 

57,000 

1,329,018 

1,200,000 

1,300,000 

1,000,000 

531,322 

228,816 

224,329 

201,004 

188,024 

147,732 

141,070 

295,772 

519,285 

255,239 

678,670 

467.472 

353,837 

344.083 


Year  Value 

1907  $:^7:{.376 

1908  512,923 

1909  376,834 

1910  417,898 

1911  355,742 

1912  362,975 

1913  981,277 

1914  628,786 

1915  227,928 

1916 535,339 

1917  221,997 

1918 139,861 

1919  220.743 

1920  495.732 

1921  725,901 

1922  670.643 

1923  I  760,081 

1921  1.211.046 

1925 1.8.53,8.^9 

Total  value '  $20,691,014 


LIME. 

r,ihliof,raplni:  Kcports  XIV.  XV,  XVII.  XVITT.     P.ullctiii  -'^8. 

LiiiU'  to  tlie  amount  of  (n.022  tons,  valued  at  .ii685,,')2S,  was  produced 
liy  nine  plants  in  seven  counties  during  1925,  as  compared  with  62.922 
tons  valued  at  $703,355,  in  1924.  There  were  two  plants  each  in  San 
l^crnardino  and  Santa  Cruz  counties,  and  one  each  in  El  Dorado.  Kern, 
Si.skiyou,  Tulare,  and  Tuolumne. 

So  far  a.s  we  have  ])een  able  to  segregate  the  data,  these  figures  include 
mainly  only  siu-h  lime  as  is  used  in  building  operations;  though  they  do 
include  a  small  proportion  of  calcined  lime  employed  in  agriculture 
and  the  chemical  industries,  the  figures  for  which  were  not  .separal)le. 
A  jiortion  is  hydrated  lime.  Limestone  utilized  in  sugar  making,  for 
smelter  flux,  as  a  fertilizer,  and  other  special  industrial  uses,  are  classi- 
fied under  'Industrial  ^laterials.'  That  consumed  in  cement  /.nanii- 
facturc  is  included  in  the  value  of  cement. 


74 


MINERAL    I.N'DrSTKY    (»F    CALIFOUNIA. 


Lime  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Tlie  following  ta))iilation  gives  the  amounts  and  value  of  lime  pro- 
duced in  California  by  years  since  1894  when  compilation  of  such 
i-eeoi'ds  was  begun  by  tlie  State  IMining  liureau.  Tlie  figures  for 
(juantitv  have  been  recaleuUilcd  from  'barrels'  to  'tons'  for  tlie  years 
1894-1922  (inc.)  : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1894    .... 

37,350 
39,776 
30,275 
28,780 
29,786 
29,985 
31,252 
31,738 
44,866 
49,659 
57,945 
61,700 
68,927 
68,422 
39,639 
52,075 
47,951 

$318,700 
386,094 
261,505 
252,900 
254,010 
314,575 
283,699 
334,688 
369,616 
418,280 
571,749 
555,322 
763,060 
756,376 
379,243 
577,824 
477,683 

1911 

42,959 
52,212 
61,344 
43,996 
35,653 
49,364 
50,073 
43,684 
42,070 
46,314 
46,353 
57,875 
70,894 
62,029 
61,922 

.$390,988 

1895 ... 

1912- 

464,440 

1896 

1913 

528,547 

1897 

1914 

378,663 

1898-. 

1915. 

286,304 

1899 

1916 

390,475 

1900 

1917 

311,380 

1901.  -  

1918 

461,315 

1902.  ...  

1919 

552,043 

1903 

1920 

557,232 

1904 

1921 

610,619 

1905 

1922 

671,747 

1906... 

1923 

788,834 

1907 

1924 

703,355 

1908. 

1925 

Totals. 

685,528 

1909 

1910.  

1,516,868 

$15,0.56,794 

MAGNESITE. 
Bibliograplnj:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV  (inc.),  XVII- 
XXII.  Bulletins  38,  79.  IT.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bulletins  355,  540; 
Min.  Res.  1913,  Pt.  II,  pp.  450-453.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  A^ol.  114, 
p.  237.  ''Magnesite" — Hearings  before  the  Comm.  on  Ways 
and  Means,  House  of  Repr.,  on  H.  R.  5218,  June  16,  17,  and 
Julv  17,  1919.  Eng.  Soc.  W.  Penn.,  Proc.  1913,  Vol.  29,  pp.  305- 
388,  418-444.  Eng.  &  I\lin.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  114,  Julv  29,  and 
Dec.  2,  1922.  U.  S.  Tariff  Comm.,  "Crude  and  Caustic  Calcined 
Magnesite.  A  Preliminarv  Statement  of  Information,"  May  19, 
1926. 

The  production  of  magnesite  in  California  during  1925  amounted  to 
a  total  of  64,623  tons  of  crude  ore  valued  at  .+872.944.  Only  a  small 
part  of  it  was  sold  'crude,'  however,  as  it  is  practically  all  .shijiped  in 
the  calcined  form.  The  reports  at  hand  show  a  total  of  28,110  tons 
shipped  ealcined,  of  which  3726  ton.s  was  dead-burned  and  sold  for 
refractory  purposes,  the  balance  going  to  the  pla.stic  trade.  From  2  to 
2^  tons  of  crude  material  are  mined  to  make  one  ton  of  calcined.  The 
1925  output  is  a  slight  decrease  both  in  quantity  and  value  from  the 
1924  figures  of  67,236  tons  crude  valued  at  !|<90d,193.  The  average  of 
the  values  reported  for  1925  is  .tl3..50  per  ton  compared  with  $13.40 
in  1924. 

The  more  imi)ortant  producing  properties  in  1925  were:  ]\laltby  No.  1 
(Western  Magnesite  Development  Co.,  operated  under  lease  by  C.  S. 
Maltby)  on  Red  Mountain,  Santa  Clara  County;  and  the  Sierra  Magne- 
site Company '.s  group  near  Porterville,  Tulare  County;  followed  in 
order  by  the  Sampson  Peak  Mine  (Maltby  No.  3),  San  Benito  County 
and  California  IMagnesia  Company  (old  Ilarker  IMine)  at  Porterville. 
A  small  amount  was  also  contributed  from  Stanislaus  County. 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL    rRODUCTION.  75 

A  preliminary  press  bulletin  by  ^Mr.  J.  :\r.  Hill  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Klines  (^lai-.  1,  1926)  shows:  Imports  of  magnesite  in  1925  were 
4429  tons  crude,  valued  at  $54,59:1  most  of  which  came  from  Italy; 
17.102  tons  of  caustic  calcined,  valued  at  $414.7-^4.  over  half  of  which 
came  from  India,  and  47.613  tons  of  dead-burned,  valued  at  $703,074, 
practically  all  of  which  was  from  Italy.  This  was  the  equivalent  of  a 
total  of  143.440  tons  of  crude  ore. 

Occurrence. 

^laynesite  is  a  natural  carbonate  of  magnesium,  and  when  pure  con- 
tains 52.49^  COo  (carbon  dioxide)  and  47.6";/;  ^IgO  (magnesia).  It  has 
a  hardness  of  3.5  to  4.5.  and  specific  gravity  of  3  to  3.12.  It  is  both 
harder  and  heavier  than  calcite  (calcium  carbonate),  and  also  contains 
a  higher  percentage  of  CO.  as  calcite  has  but  44%. 

^lost  of  the  California  magnesite  is  comparatively  pure,  and  is  ordi- 
narily a  beautiful,  Avhite,  fine-grained  rock  with  a  conchoidal  fracture 
resembling  a  break  in  porcelain.  The  Grecian  magnesite  is  largely  of 
this  character;  but  the  Austrian  varieties  usually  contain  iron,  so  that 
they  become  brown  after  calcining.  The  Washington  magnesite  resem- 
bles dolomite  and  some  crystalline  limestones  in  physical  appearance. 
Its  color  varies  through  light  to  dark  gray,  and  pink. 

In  California  the  known  deposits  are  mostly  in  the  metamorphic  rocks 
of  the  Coast  Ranges  and  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  being  associated 
with  serpentine  areas.  The  notable  exceptions  are  the  sedimentary 
deposits,  at  Bissell  in  Kern  County  and  at  Afton  in  San  Bernardino 
County.  Several  thou.sand  tons  have  been  .shipped  from  the  Bissell 
deposit ;  and  small  shipments  have  been  made  from  the  Afton  property. 

The  Washington  deposits  are  associated  with  extensive  strata  of 
dolomitic  limestone.  The  magnesite  there  appears  to  contain  more  iron 
than  most  of  the  California  mineral,  which  makes  it  desirable  for  the 
steel  operators.  However,  recent  experience  has  proved  that  several 
California  localities  have  sui^icient  iron  in  their  magnesite  to  be  service- 
able in  the  steel  furnaces.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  Refractory 
Magnesite  Company's  mine  near  Preston  in  Sonoma  County,  the  White 
Rock  ]\Iine  at  Pope  Valley  and  the  Blanco  ]\Iine  in  Chiles  Valley,  Xapa 
County.  There  is  some  also  at  the  Sampson  Peak  property  in  San 
Benito  County. 

Uses. 

The  principal  uses  include :  Refractory  linings  for  basic  open-liearth 
steel  furnaces,  copper  reverberatories  and  converters,  bullion  and  other 
I  metallurgical  furnaces;  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  from  wood  pulp; 
and  in  structural  Avork,  for  exterior  stucco,  for  flooring,  Avainscoting, 
tiling,  sanitary  kitchen  and  hospital  finishing,  etc.  In  connection  with 
building  Avork  it  has  proved  particularly  efficient  as  a  flooring  for  steel 
railroad  coaches,  on  account  of  having  greater  elasticity  and  resilience 
than  'Portland'  cement.  For  refractory  purposes  the  magnesite  is 
'dead-burned' — /.  r..  all  or  practically  all  of  the  COo  is  expelled  from  it. 
For  cement  purposes  it  is  left  'caustic' — /.  c,  from  2['(  to  10','  of  CO., 
is  retained.  Wlien  dry  caustic  magnesite  is  mixed  Avith  a  solution  of 
magnesium  chloride  f^IgCL)  in  pro]H'r  proportions,  a  A'ery  strong 
cement  is  produced,  knoAvn  as  oxychloride  or  Sorel  cement.  It  is 
jipplied  in  a  plastic  form,  Avhich  sets  in  a  fcAv  hours,  as  a  tough,  seamless 
surface.      It   has  also   a  A'ery   strong  bonding   poAver,    and   Avill   hold 


76  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFOKNIA. 

finuly  to  -wood,  metal,  or  concrete  as  a  l)ase.  It  may  be  fiiiislied  Avitli 
a  very  smooth,  even  surface,  Aviiich  will  take  a  jirood  ^vax  or  oil  polish. 
As  ordinarily  mixed  there  is  added  a  certain  proi)ortion  of  wood 
flour,  cork,  asbestos,  or  other  filler,  thereby  addin"'  to  the  elastic  proper- 
ties of  the  tlnislied  product.  Its  surface  is  described  as  'warm'  and 
'([uiet'  as  a  result  of  the  elastic  and  nonconducting  character  of  th(^ 
composite  material.  The  cement  is  freciuently  colored  by  the  addition 
of  some  mineral  pigment  to  the  materials  before  mixing  as  cement. 

For  refractory  purposes  the  calcined  magnesite  is  largely  made  up 
into  bricks  similar  to  tire-brick  for  furnace  linings.  It  is  also  used 
unconsolidated,  as  'grain'  magnesite.  For  sucli,  an  iron  content  i- 
desirable,  as  it  allows  of  a  slight  sintering  in  forming  the  brick.  Dead- 
burned,  pure  magnesia  can  not  be  sintered  except  at  very  high  tempera- 
tures; and  it  has  little  or  no  plasticity,  so  that  it  is  hard  to  handle.  Its 
plasticity  is  said  to  be  improved  by  using  with  it  some  partly  calcined 
or  caustic  magnesite.  Heavy  pressure  will  bind  the  material  sufficiently 
to  allow  it  to  l)e  sintered. 

A  coating  of  crushed  magnesite  is  laid  on  lieartlis  used  for  heating 
steel  stock  for  rolling,  to  prevent  tlie  scale  formed  from  attacking  the 
fire-brick  of  tlie  hearth. 

Before  the  World  War,  practically  all  of  the  domestic  output  of 
caustic  magnesite  was  used  in  the  manufacture  of  pulp  and  paper.  For 
this  purpose  calcined  dolomite  is  now  used.  The  use  of  dolomite  instead 
of  magnesite  by  paper  manufacturers  began  during  the  war  when  the 
price  of  magnesite  was  very  high.  Dolomite  was  found  to  be  a  good 
substitute  for  magnesite  in  the  bisulphite  process  of  paper  making 
and  so  its  use  has  continued. 

The  foUoAving  table,  based  upon  a  study  by  the  U.  S.  Taritf  Com- 
mission,^ shows  the  amounts  and  percentages  of  caustic  magnesite  used 
for  various  purposes  during  the  first  nine  months  of  1923. 

"Use 

"Stucco   

Flooring     

Rubber    trade 

Insulation     

Chemicals     

Not  determined 


Per  cent 

Short  ton 

of  total 

34,420 

73.6 

5,953 

12.8 

5T7 

1.2 

796 

1.5 

3,192 

6.9 

1,865 

4.0 

46,803  100.0 

"Later  information  received  from   the  magne.site  trade  indicates  that  a  somewhat 
larger  proportion  of  both   domestic   and    foreign   magnesite   is   being  used   for   stucco    i 
and  a  smaller  proportion  for  flooring.     The  exact  amount.s  are  not  known. 


"Transportation. 

"All  domestic  caustic  magnesite  origniates  in  California,  Init  most  of  it  is  con- 
sumed east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  oi'  the  Ohio.  The  largest  producer  ships 
his  lump  calcined  ]3roduct  by  rail  to  Joliet,  Illinois,  or  by  the  Panama  Canal  to 
Jersey  City,  to  be  ground.  The  costs  of  shipment  by  all  rail  or  via  Panama  are 
about  the  same  for  destinations  midway  between  Harrisburg  and  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Ne  ^  *  «  #  «  4: 

"Area   of   Competition. 

"The  market  distribution  of  domestic  and  foreign  caustic  magnesite  in  this  country 
for  the  months  of  September,  Octolier,  and  November.  1923,  and  the  same  months  of 
1924,  was  the  subject  of  a  special  study  by  tlie  Tarift  Commission.  The  geographic 
center  of  consumption  for  the  domestic  i)roduct  was  found  to  be  about  midway 
along  the  Ohio-Michigan  border,  and  was  moving  south.  The  corresponding  center 
for  the  foreign  product  was  near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  was  moving  west.     The  center 


'  U.    S.   Tariff   Comm. :   Crude   and    Calcined   Magnesite.      A   preliminary  statement 
of  Information,  etc.:  May  19,  1926,  p.  4. 


STATISTICS    OK    ANM'AIi    I'HODrCTIO.V.  I  I 

fr  the  coinbiiud   (ioiiusUc   and   liiieign   produrt    was   Ijetwofii   Olovt'land   ami    Vduiigsl- 
|wn,   Ohio,  and   was  mi'\ing'  southwest. 

"In  the  territory  conipiising  the   states  of   New   York,   New   Jersey,    Pennsylvania, 

i    Delaware,    Maryland.    District    of    Columbia,    and    Virginia    the    tonnage    of    imported 

ij    'magnesite  sold  was  greater  and  the  average  price  less  than  of  the  domestic  magne- 

site.      In   the   states   uf   Michigan,    Ohio,    Indiana,    Kentucky,    lillinois,   Wisconsin,   and 

Missouri,    the   tonnage   of    imported    magnesite    sold   was    less   and   the    average    price 

greater  than  of  the  df)mestic  magnesite. 

"Delivered    Costs    and    Prices. 

"LuDii)    Mdfiiifail f.      Foi'eign    lump    magnesite,    all    of    which    comes    from    British 

India,  is  entered  at  the  port  of  New  Vork.     Approximately  17  per  cent  of  the  domestic 

production   of   magnesite   comes   in   lump   form   to   New    Vork    (Jersey   City),    via    the 

1    Panama  Canal,  all  shipments  to  Jersey  City  being  made  by  one  California  producer. 

I         "The    lump    of    l)oth    foreign    and    domestic    origin    is    ground    and    later    sold    as 

J    ground  magnesite. 

"Ground  Maynesitr.     Imported  lump   is   ground   in  Brooklyn,   while   domestic  lump 
is  ground  in  Jersey  (^it.v,  in  California,  and  in  .Joliet,  Illinois. 

-P  *  *  :i:  -.j:  *  * 

"Liump  magnesite,  botli  imported  and  domestic,  after  grinding  in  Brooltlyn  and 
li  Jersey  City,  competes  with  that  ground  before  importation,  and,  as  it  moves  west, 
I  comes  into  competition  with  that  ground  at  Joliet  and  in  California.  The  available 
'  data  would  indicate  that  the  eastern  limit  of  competition  is  the  North  Atlantic 
■  seaboard,  and  that  the  western  limit  is  api^roximately  the  Mississippi  River.  For 
!  these  reasons  the  transportation  and  grinding  costs  have  been  summarized,  as 
j   shown   in   Table   15,   for  magnesite   laid  down  in   the   vicinity  of  New   York   City,    in 

Chicago,  and  in  Cleveland,  the  approximate  center  of  consumption  of  the  competitive 

territory. 

"The  price  of  imported  magnesite  at  the  foreign  plant  and  the  cost  of  production 

of    domestic    magnesite    cannot    be    shown    since    confidential    information    would    be 

revealed  thereb.y. 
1         "Taiile   15.      ComiJarative  costs,   11124,  of  placing  domestic  and  imported  magnesite 

at  selected  points  in  the  competitive  territory. 

"("ost    of    grinding    is    assumed    to    be    uniform    for    all    magnesite,    domestic    and 

imported,  ground   in   the    ITnited   States. 

(Per  short  ton.) 

Kast    (New  York  and   Jersey  City). 

Domestic  Imported 

Central  Southern 

Item                                                     California  California          India     Netherlands 
Transportation     and     other    charges     of 

lump  magnesite  to  grinding  plant '  $13    29  ^  .flO    07  

Assumed    average    grinding   cost    in    the 

United    States =       6    00  -       0    00  ■" 

Transportation     and     other    charges     of 

ground    magnesite ■»  $7    80 


Totals .fia    29  .$1G    07  ■■$7    80 

Middle  AVest    (Chicago  and  (Me\ eland). 

Transportation     and     other     charges     of 

lump  magnesite  to  grinding  plant '■  .'f  1  0    00  '  $10   07  

Assumed    average    gi'inding   cost    in    the 

i'nited    States 0    00  $6    00  (I    OU        '■ 


Subtotals     $16    00  $6    00  $16    07  

Transi)ortation   of   ground    magnesite   to 

Chicago 1    GO  10   00  7    70        '$15    50 


Totals     at     Cliicago $17    GO  $16    00  $23    77        •"•$15    50 


Transportation      of     ground      magnesite 

to    Cleveland $4   10  $13   00  $5    10        "$12    90 


$6 

00 

$6 
10 

00 
00 

$16 

00 

$13 

00 

Totals    at    Cleveland $20    10  $19    00  $21    17        ^$12    90 

'  Not  including  poi'l  charges  at  New  York  or  Jersey  City. 

-Urinding  done  in  metropolitan  area  of  New  York  City. 
Oiinding   dmie   in   Netlu-r  ands  ;  no  cost  data   are  available. 

'(Jrinding   plant    in    Netherlands,    to    New    York;    port    charges    at    New    York    not 
iiKluded. 

'  Does  not    include  cost  of  grinding  in   Netherlands. 

'  All  rail  to  Joliet. 

■Netherlands  to  Chicago  or  Cleveland;    iiiclu<les   transportation,    insurance,    consul 
l>  '  s.  jind  misc»'llani'ous  charges." 

Imports   and    Domestic    Production. 

Rc|)()rts  of  the   [' .  y.   liureaii   of  Foreijin   and    Dompstic   Coiunicree 

show  iin])orts  of  calcined  inajrnesite  to  liave  l)eeii  172, ."»!)!   loii"-  tons  in 

'  I!)!:'.;    144.747    in    1!»14,   and    (i:!,:!47    in    1!)1.");   most   of   it    eoniino-    ffoni 


78 


MINERAI.    I.VDl'.STl.V    OK    C.Vr.l  I'OU.X  I  A. 


Austi-ia-lliiii^ar\'  and  some  I'l'otii  (i recce,  tlial  fi'oiii  the  foniier  hciii^ 
refractory  deatl-bnrned  and  from  tlic  latter  caustic.  For  the  .same 
years  the  iiroduction  of  cnuh*  (from  2  to  2i  tons  of  crude  ore  required 
to  yield  one  Ion  of  tlic  calcined)  ma<>:nesite  in  California  (the  sole 
producer  of  those  yeai-s,  in  the  United  States)  was:  \){V.V2  short  tons. 
]1,4."5S  tons,  1)0,721  tons,  respectively.  For  l})l(i  the  California  ontput 
leaped  to  ir)4,()r)2  tons  of  crude  and'to  2()}),(i48  tons  in  1917,  but  follow 
i]if4'  which  it  di-()])ped  considerably  on  account  of  resumption  of  f()i-ei<i)i 
importations,  which  totaled  52,483  long  tons  in  1921,  valued  at  $776,384. 
being  then  admitted  duty  free.  Shipments  from  Washington  were 
begun  late  in  1916;  and  durin.g  the  following  three  years  a.ssumed 
important  proportions. 

The  Tariff'  Act  of  1922,  which  becanu'  effective  Se|)teinl)er  22d,  of 
that  year,  placed  the  following  imi)ort  duties  on  magnesite  :  Crude 
maguesite  %(i^  per  11).,  caustic-calcined  magnesite  %</;  per  lb.;  dead- 
burned  and  grain  magnesite,  not  suitable  for  manufacture  into  oxy- 
chloride  cements,  -%of'  per  lb.;  magnesite  brick,  %f  per  lb.  and  10', 
ad  valorem.  The  figures  of  imports  for  192.)  as  published  by  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce,  show  a  total  of  69,117 
short  tons  of  calcined  ore  valued  at  $1,172,644,  as  compared  with 
70,406  tons  and  $1,098,998  in  1924. 


Total    Magnesite    Production    of    California. 

The  first  commercial  production  of  magnesite  in  California  was  made 
in  the  latter  part  of  1886  from  the  Cedar  Mountain  district/  southeast 
of  Livermore,  Alameda  County.  Shipments  amounting  to  'several 
tons'  or  'several  carloads'  were  sent  by  rail  to  New  York;  but  there  is 
apparently  no  exact  record  of  the  amount  for  that  fir.st  year.  The 
statistical  records  of  the  State  jMining  Bureau  began  with  the  year 
1887,  and  the  table  herewith  shows  the  figures  for  amount  and  value, 
annually,  from  that  time.  Shipments  of  magnesite  from  Napa  County 
began  in  1891  from  the  Snowflake  JMine ;  from  the  Ked  ]\Iountain 
deposits  in  Santa  Clara  Countv,  in  1899 ;  and  from  Tulare  County 
in  1900. 

Production  of  Magnesite  in  California,  Since  1887. 


Tear 

Tom 

Valua 

Tear 

Tons 

Yaliw 

1887           

600 

600 
600 
600 
1.500 
1.500 
1.093 
1.440 
2,200 
1,500 
1,143 
1,263 
1.280 
2.252 
4,726 
2,830 
1.861 
2.850 
3.933 
4.032 

$9,000 

9.000 
9.000 

9.000 
15,000 
15,000 
10,930 
10,240 
17,000 
11,000 
13,671 
19,075 
18,480 
19,333 
43,057 
20,655 
20.515 

9,298 
16,221 
40,320 

1907 

6,405 
10,582 

7,942 
16,570 

8,858 
10512 

9.632 
11.438 
30.721 
154,052 
209,648 
83,974 
44,696 
83,695 
47,837 
55.637 
73,963 
67,230 
04,023 

$57,720 

1888 

1908 

li:'fl9 

80,822 

1889                   

62,588 

1890    .             ..— 

1910 

113,887 

1891 

1911 

67,430 

1892       

1912 

1913    

105,120 

1893 

77,056 

1894           .              

:>]  i 

114,380 

1895       - 

1915 

283,461 

1896                          —  - 

1916 

1.311.893 

1897    

1917 

1918 

1919 

1,976,227 

1898 

803,492 

1899 

452.094 

1900 

1920 — - 

1.033.491 

IQfll 

1921                        

.511,102 

1902 

1922 

594.665 

1903 

1923 

946,643 

1904 - 

1024   

900.183 
s7->  944 

1905 

Totals 

1906 

1,03.5.324 

$10,700,993 

See  U.  S.  Gool.  Siirv.  ;  Mineral  Resources  of  U.  S.,  1880,  pp.  6  and  fiOG. 


STATISTICS   OF   AXXFAL    I'RODIT'TIOX. 


MARBLE. 


BibliogropJiy:  State  .Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV  (inc.),  XVII- 
XXI  (inc.).    Bulletin  38.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  106. 

]\Iarble  is  widely  distributed  in  California,  and  in  a  considerable 
variety  of  colors  and  grain.  The  ID'io  figures  show  a  sliglit  decrease 
both  in  (juantity  and  value  from  those  of  1924,  l)eing  :}."'),664  cu.  ft., 
worth  .$116.10.')." 

California  has  many  beautiful  and  serviceable  varieties  of  marble, 
suitable  for  almost  any  conceivable  purpose  of  construction  or  decora- 
tion. In  the  decorative  class  are  deposits  of  onyx  marble  of  beautiful 
coloring  and  effects.  There  is  also  serpentine  marble  suitable  for 
electrical  switchboard  use. 

Marble    Production    of   California,    by    Years. 

Data  on  annual  production  since  1887,  as  compiled  by  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  follows.  Previous  to  1894  no  records  of  amounts  were 
preserved. 


1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894  

38,441 

1895 

14,864 

isw   

7,883 

1897 

4,102 

1898 

8,050 

1899 

9,682 

1900  

4,103 

1901 

2,945 

1902  . 

19,305 

1903 

84,624 

1904 

5.5.401 

1905 

73,303 

1906 

31,400 

$5,000 

5,000 

87.030 

80,000 

100.000 

115,000 

40,000 

98,326 

56,566 

32,415 

7.280 

23,594 

10,550 

5,891 

4,630 

37.616 

97,354 

94.208 

129,450 

7.5,800 


1907 

1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
tnio 


37.512 

18.653 
79.600 
18.960 
20,201 
27,820 
41.654 
25.436 
22,186 
25,954 
24,755 
"17.428 
25,020 


Value 


1920 "29,5.31 

1991             30.232 

1922 38.321 

1023     2S.ni5 

1924 ^ei,519 

1H2.-, 8.5.()64 


S118.066 

47.665 

238,400 

50,200 

54.103 

74,120 

113,282 

48.832 

41,518 

50.2sn 

62.950 

49,898 

74,482 

92,899 

98,395 

127,792 

124.919 

140,253 

ll(i,10.T 


Total  value  - ' '    $2.829.809 


'Includes  onyx  and  serpentine. 
''Includes  ony.x. 


ONYX  and  TRAVERTINE. 


Bihlioqraplni :  State  INIineraloiiist  Reports 
XVill.     Bulletin  38. 


XII-XV   (inc.\  XVII. 


W  Onyx  and  travertine  are  known  to  exist  in  a  number  of  places  in 
California,  but  there  has  been  only  a  small  and  irregular  production 
since  the  year  1896.  In  192.')  tliere  were  shipments  from  Solano  and 
Mono  counties  totaling  19,940  cu.  ft.,  valued  at  $16,120.     The  Solano 

I   Countv  material  was  mainlv  used  fnj-  tei-i-a/./.o. 


HO 


.MINKK'.M,     INDI'STin'     OF    ( 'AIJFORXIA. 


Onyx   Production   of  California,   by   Years. 

Production  bv  xcars  luis  been  as  follows 


1887  $900 

1888     „.  900 

1889  i  900 

1890  .1  1.500 

1891  „...  2.400 

1892  1,800 

1893 27,000 

1894  20.000 

1895  12.000 


1896 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 
1923 
1924 
vx2r,  . 


Total  value 


$24,000 


1,294 
3,320 
2.510 

• 

16,120 


$114.fi44 


•See  under  Marble. 


SANDSTONE. 

nihlioqntpht]:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV,  XVII,  XVIII, 
XXI.    Bulletin  ;]8.    U.  S.  Bnr.  of  ]\I.,  Bull.  124. 

An  unlimited  amount  of  liiji'li-ji'rade  sandstone  is  available  in  Cali- 
fornia, but  the  wide  use  of  concrete  in  buildinos  of  every  character,  as 
well  as  the  popularity  of  a  ligliter-colored  building  stone,  has  curtailed 
production  in  this  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  during:  recent  years 
almost  to  the  vanishinfi'  point.  In  1925  a  total  of  14,704  cu.  ft.  valued 
at  $14,362  was  quarried  in  four  counties,  Colusa,  Los  An^ele.s,  Monte- 
rey, and  Siskiyou;  couipared  with  6,700  cu.  ft.  and  $8,600  in  1924. 
The  material  reported  froui  Monterey  County  is  in  reality  an  indurated 
shale  of  the  ^Monterey  series,  of  a  cream-color  and  utilized  as  a  building 
stone. 

Sandstone  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value,  so  far  as  contained  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau, 
are  presented,  herewith,  with  total  value  from  1887  to  date : 


Tear 

Cubic  feet 

Value 

1887 1 

$175,000 

1888 

150,000 

1889 

175,598 

1890     .      „  

100,000 

1891   i— - 

100,000 

1892         -   ...i 

50.000 

1893 ' 

26,314 

1894 ...' 

113.592 

1895 

35.373 

1896   ,  .   

28.379 

1897 

24.086 

1898       .   

46,384 

1899  

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

56.264 

378.468 
266.741 
212,123 
353.002 
363,487 
302,813 
182.076 

103.384 
254,140 
192,132 
142.506 
585.309 
567.181 

1905   .  ..  

483.268 

1906 

104,008 

Year 


Cubic  feet 


Value 


1907 159.573 

1908 93.301 

1909 79.240 

1910 165,971 

1911 255.313 

1912 66.487 

1913 62.227 

1914 111.691 


1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

U)24   

1H25 


63,350 

17,270 

31,090 

900 

5,400 

10,500 

10,150 

900 

7.000 

/!.7()0 
IJ.TOl 


•S  148,148 

55.151 

37.032 

80.443 

127.314 

22.574 

27.870 

45.322 

8.438 

10,271 

7.074 

400 

3,720 

2.300 

2.112 

1.100 

13.000 

14,H(i2 


Total  value 1 '    $4.12ti,fl4.i 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


81 


SERPENTINE. 

BibliogmpJiij:  State  JNIineralogist  Report  XV.    Bulletin  38. 

Serpentine  has  not  been  produced  in  California  to  a  very  large  extent 
at  any  time.  A  single  deposit,  that  on  Santa  Catalina  Island,  has 
yielded  the  principal  output  to  date.  Some  material  was  shipped  from 
there  in  1917  and  1918,  being  the  only  output  recorded  since  1907.  It 
wa.s  used  for  decorative  building  purposes  and  for  electrical  switch- 
boards. As  there  was  hut  a  single  operator,  the  figures  were  combined 
with  those  of  marble  output  for  those  years. 

Serpentine   Production   of   California,   by   Years. 

The  following  table  sliows  the  amount  and  value  of  serpentine  from 
]  895  as  recorded  by  this  Bureau : 


T«ai 

Cubic  feet 

Valui 

Year 

Cubic  feet 

Value 

1895 

4,000 

1,500 

2,500 

750 

500 

350 

89 

512 

99 

$4,000 
6,000 
2,500 
3,000 
2,000 
2.000 

890 
5,065 

800 

1904           

200 

$2,310 

1896 

1905    

1897 

1898 _. 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903. 

1906 

1907 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Totals 

847 
1,000 
a 
b 

1.694 
3,000 
a 
b 

12.347 

$33,259 

=  Under    'Unapportloned.' 
''  See  under  Marble. 


SLATE. 

BibUogyaphy:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XV,  XVIII.     Bulletin 
38.    U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  586.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  218. 

Slate  was  first  produced  in  California  in  1889.  Up  to  and  including 
1910  such  production  was  continuous,  but  since  then  it  has  been  irregu- 
lar. Large  deposits  of  excellent  quality  are  known  in  the  state,  espe- 
cialh'  in  El  Dorado,  Calaveras  and  IMariposa  counties,  but  the  demand 
has  been  light  owing  principally  to  competition  of  cheaper  roofing 
materials, 

'Slate'  is  a  term  applied  to  a  fine-grained  rock  that  has  a  more  or 
less  perfect  cleavage,  permitting  it  to  be  readily  split  into  thin,  smooth 
sheets.  Varieties  differ  widely  in  color  and  have  a  considerable  range 
in  chemical  and  mineralogical  composition.  Excepting  certain  rare 
slates  of  igneous  origin  (of  which  the  green  slate  of  the  Eureka  quarry. 
El  Dorado  County,  California,  is  an  example)  formed  from  volcanic  ash 
or  igneous  dikes,  slates  have  originated  from  sedimentary  deposits 
consisting  largely  of  clay.  By  consolidation,  and  the  pressure  of  super- 
im])osed  materials,  clays  become  bedded  deposits  of  shale.  By  further 
consolidation  under  intense  pressure  and  high  temperature  incident  to 
mountain-building  forces,  shales  are  metamorphosed  to  slates.  The 
principal  mineral  constituents  are  mica,  quartz,  and  chlorite,  with 
smaller  varying  amounts  of  hematite,  rutile,  kaolin,  graphite,  feldspar, 
tourmaline,  calcite,  and  others. 


C— 47818 


82 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  color  of  slate  is  of  oeonomie  importance.  The  common  colors  arc 
yray,  l)luish  f^ray,  and  black,  though  reds  a7id  various  shades  of  green 
are  occasionally  found. 

The  i)erman('ucy  of  slate  for  looling  is  well  known.  It  is  stated  that 
there  are  slate  roofs  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  over  100  years  old. 

^  "In  England  and  Wales,  and  in  France,  many  bnildings  constructed  in  the  15th 
and  IGth  centuries  were  roofed  with  slate,  and  the  roofs  are  still  in  excellent  condi- 
tion. There  is  a  record  of  a  chapel  in  Bedford-on-Avon  in  Wiltshire,  England,  roofed 
with  slate  in  the  Sth  century,  and  after  1200  years  of  climatic  exposure  is  moss- 
covered  but  in  good  condition." 

Contrary  to  the  general  impression,  however,  the  major  portion  of 
the  slate  produced  in  the  United  States  is  n.sed  on  the  inside  rather  than 


El  Dorado  County  slato  placed  on  roof  of  a  residence  Ijeing  built  in  Oakland, 
California,    September,    1926. 


the  outside  of  buildings.  Its  interior  uses  include  stationary  washtubs, 
electrical  switchboards,  and  blackboards. 

A  square  of  roofing  slate  is  a  sufficient  number  of  pieces  of  an,y  size 
to  cover  100  square  feet  of  roof,  with  allowance  generally  for  a  three- 
inch  lap.  The  sizes  of  the  pieces  of  slate  making  up  a  square  range 
from  7x9  inches  to  16  x  24  inches,  and  the  number  of  pieces  in  a 
square  ranges  from  85  to  686.  The  Perry  Building,  San  Francisco,  is 
roofed  with  Eureka  slate  from  El  Dorado  County. 

In  California,  there  Avere  no  shipments  in  1925,  but  at  present  there 
are  prospects  of  commercial  output  being  renewed;  in  fact,  some  small 
shipments  have  already  been  made  for  the  current  year. 

'  Bowles,  O.,  Slate  as  a  permanent  roofing  material :  U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Reports  of 
Investigations,  Serial  No.  2267,  July,  1921,  p.  4. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


83 


Total    Production   of  Slate   in   California. 

A  complete  record  of  amount  and  value  of  slate  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia follows: 


Year 

Squares 

Value 

Year 

Squares 

Value 

1889 

4,500 

4,000 

4,000 

3,500 

3,000 

1,800 

1,350 

500 

400 

400 

810 

3,500 

5,100 

4,000 

10,000 

$18,089 

24,000 

24,000 

21,000 

21,000 

11,700 

9,450 

2,,500 

2,800 

2,800 

5,900 

20,2,50 

38,250 

30,000 

70,000 

1904 

1905. _ - 

6,000 
4,000 
10,000 
7,000 
6.000 
6,961 
1,000 

$50,000 

1890              

40,000 

1891 

1906              .   .  .. 

100  000 

1892 

1907. 

1908 

60,000 

1893           

60,000 

1894 

1909    _ 

45,660 

1895 

1910 

1911 

8,000 

1896            

1897 

1915         

1,000 

5,000 

1898 

1916 

1899 

1920 

8 

80 

1900 

1921  .      

1901.. 

1902     

1922. 

1923 

• 

* 

1903. 

Totals 

88,829 

$676,479 

♦Concealed  under  'Unapportiored.' 


MISCELLANEOUS    STONE. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XXII  (inc.).    Bul- 
letin 38;  also  annual  statistical  bulletins  from  1915  to  date. 

'Miscellaneous  stone'  is  the  name  used  throughout  this  report  as  the 
title  for  that  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  covering  crushed  rock  of 
all  kinds,  paving  blocks,  sand  and  gravel,  and  pebbles  for  grinding 
mills.  The  foregoing  are  very  closely  related  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  producer;  therefore  it  has  been  found  to  be  most  satisfactory  to 
group  these  items  as  has  been  done  in  recent  reports  of  this  Bureau. 
►So  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  do  so,  crushed  rock  production  has 
been  subdivided  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  product  was  put.  It 
will  be  noted,  however,  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  output  has  been 
tabulated  under  the  heading  '  Unclassified. '  This  is  necessary  because 
of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what 
specific  use  their  rock  was  put  after  they  have  quarried  and  sold  the 
same  to  distributors  and  contractors. 

In  addition  to  amounts  produced  by  commercial  firms,  both  corpo- 
rations and  individuals,  there  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  state  but  uses 
more  or  less  gravel  and  broken  rock  on  its  roads.  Of  much  of  this, 
particularly  in  the  country  districts,  there  is  no  definite  record  kept. 

For  the  year  1925,  crushed  rock  registered  gains  both  in  tonnage  and 
value  over  the  preceding  year ;  as  did  also  sand  and  gravel.  The  result 
Mas  a  total  value  of  $17,409,854  as  compared  with  $15,966,380  in  1924. 
( 'ontinuance  of  general  building  work  and  highway  paving  are  in  part 
responsible  as  well  as  hydro-electric  power-plant  installations  and 
liarbor  protection   (breakwater  and  ,ietty  construction). 

As  for  some  years  past,  Los  Angeles  County  led  all  others  by  a  wide 
margin  witli  an  output  valiunl  at  .$6,978,605  (compared  with  $5,923,- 
329);  followed  bv  Alameda,  .second,  with  $1,414,398;  Contra  Costa, 
third,  $708,159;  Humboldt,  fourth,  $699,740;  Sacramento,  fifth,  $590,- 
359;  Riverside,  sixth,  $542,020;  San  Diego,  .seventh,  $508,538;  Fresno, 
eighth,  $457,307 ;  followed  in  turn  by  Santa  Clara,  Mariposa,  San 
Bernardino,  San  Benito,  Shasta,  Orange,  and  Del  Norte,  in  the  order 


84 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


named,  oacli  with  a  total  between  a  half-  and  a  quarter-million  dollars 
value. 

Paving    Blocks. 

The  paving  block  industry  has  decreased  materially  of  recent  years, 
almost  to  the  vanishing  point,  because  of  the  increased  construction  of 
smoother  pavements  demanded  by  motor-vehicle  traffic.  The  blocks 
made  in  Solano  County  were  of  basalt;  those  from  Sonoma  are  of 
basalt,  andasite,  and  .some  trachyte,  while  those  from  Placer,  Riverside, 
San  Bernardino,  and  San  Diego  are  of  granite. 

Production  in  1!)25  amt)unted  to  27  M,  valued  at  $1,350. 

The  amount  and  value  of  paving  block  production  annually  since 
1887  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 

Amount 
M 

Value 

Tear 

Amount 
M 

Value 

1887    

*10,000 

$350,000 

1907 ._-. 

4.604 

$199,347 

1888    

10,500 

367,500 

1908 

7,660 

334.780 

1889    

7.303 

297,2:36 

1909 

4,503 

199.803 

1890    

7,000 

245,000 

1910 

4,434 

198,916 

1891    

5,000 

150.000 

1911 

4,141 

210,819 

1892    

*3,000 

96,000 

1912 

11,018 

578,355 

1893    

2.770 

96,950 

1913 

6,364 

363,505 

1894    

2.517 

66,981 

1914 

6,053 

270.598 

1895    

2,332 

73,338 

1915 

3,285 

171,092 

1896    

4.161 

77.584 

1916 

1.322 

54.362 

1897    

1,711 

35,235 

1917 

938 

38.567 

1898    

1,144 

305 

1,192 

21,725 

7,861 

23,775 

1918 

372 
27 
63 

17,000 

1899     

1919 

1,350 

1900    

1920 

3,155 

1901               

1,920 
3,502 
4,854 
3,977 

41,075 
112,437 
134,642 
161.752 

1921    

4 
72 
15 
11 
27 

280 

1902     

1922 

3.924 

1903 

1923 

880 

1904 

1924 

935 
1,350 

1905 

3.408 
4.203 

134.347 
1        173,432 

Totals 

1906 

135,702 

$5,315,888 

♦Figures  for  1887-1892  (inc.)  are  for  Sonoma  County  only,  as  none  are  available 
for  other  counties  during  that  period;  though  Solano  County  quarries  were  then 
also  quite  active. 

Grinding   Mill   Pebbles. 

Production  of  pebbles  for  tube  and  grinding  mills  began  commer- 
cially in  California  in  1915.  Owing  to  the  decreased  imports  and 
higher  prices  of  Belgium  and  other  European  flint  pebbles,  due  to  the 
war,  there  was  a  serious  inquiry  for  domestic  sources  of  supply.  One  of 
the  shipments  made  in  that  year  was  of  pebbles  selected  from  gold- 
dredger  tailings  in  Sacramento  County,  for  use  in  a  gold  mill  in 
Amador  County  employing  Hardinge  mills. 

The  important  development  in  this  item,  however,  took  place  in  San 
Diego  County.  At  several  points  along  the  ocean  shore  from  Encinitas 
south  to  near  San  Diego,  there  are  beaches  of  washed  pebbles  varying 
from  1  inch  to  6  inchas  in  diameter,  w-hich  come  from  conglomerate 
beds  made  up  of  well-rounded  water-worn  pebbles  of  various  granitic 
and  porphyritic  rocks  with  some  felsite  and  flint.  The  wave  action  has 
broken  down  portions  of  the  cliffs  for  considerable  distances  and 
formed  beaches  of  the  pebbles  which  are  well  washed  and  cleaned  of 
the  softer  materials.     The  rocks  sorted  out  for  shipment  are  mainly 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


85 


I)a.salt  and  diabase,  with  an  occasional  felsite  and  flint  pebble.  There 
is  a  tough  black  basalt  which  is  stated  to  give  satisfactory  results.  In 
Fresno  County  pebbles  have  been  selected  from  the  gravel  beds  of  the 
San  Joaquin  River  near  Friant.  Shipments  have  been  made  to 
metallurgical  plants  in  California,  Nevada,  Montana  and  Utah. 

lm])()rts  in  1025  amounted  to  14,500  long  tons,  valued  at  $105,041 
compared  with  15,601  long  tons  and  $114,958  in  1924. 

Californian  output  for  1925  was  215  tons,  valued  at  $1,385,  a 
decrease  from  the  1924  figures. 

The  amount  and  value  of  grinding  mill  pebbles,  annually,  follows : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
191G 
1920 
1921 
1922 
1923 
iulm. 

102.-.  - 


Totals. 


340 

$2,810 

20,232 

107,567 

21.4-50 

90,538 

8,628 

61,268 

2.607 

19.272 

2,104 

17,988 

247 

1,418 

1,571 

7,628 

2.650 

14,936 

434 

2.969 

21.5 

l,38r, 

60,478 


$257,779 


Sand   and   Gravel. 

A  (■oiisidei'al)le  part  of  the  gravel  excavated  is  pas.sed  through  grading 
and  washing  plants,  and  the  material  over  2  inches  in  size  is  crushed. 
iMuch  of  it  is  utilized  in  concrete  mixtures.  Most  of  the  gravel  used 
for  road  surfacing  and  repairs  as  well  as  that  for  railroad  ballast  is 
creek-run  or  pit-run  material  which  is  spread  upon  the  roads  without 
undergoing  any  gradiue-  or  washing. 


Plant  of  Granite  Rock  Company  at  Logan.   San  Benito  County.     The  quarry  face 
shows  above  and  to  the  left  of  the  buildings.     Photo  by  C.  McK.  Laizure. 


86  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

The  distrihntio]!  of  tlie  1925  output  of  sand  and  gravel,  by  counties, 
is  yiven  in  the  following  table: 

County  Tons  Value 

Alameda M, 642, 874  $1,024,891 

Amador 18,850  21,200 

Butte 86,727  57,592 

Calaveras 1,719  1,305 

Contra  Costa =>  106,245  43,470 

Del  Norte 1,000  750 

El   Dorado    7,153  10,220 

Fresno 577,071  249,527 

Glenn 248,600  91,926 

Humboldt 164,875  98,169 

Imperial    166,940  138,294 

Kern    6,000  3,000 

Lake    25,500  15,300 

Lassen     1,000  750 

Los  Angeles '^4,591,655  2,869,229 

Mariposa    817,735  328,794 

Merced    67,333  27,300 

Modoc    8,200  2,000 

Mono <=  15,000  29,250 

Monterey    i  264,927  209,423 

Napa   35,029  25,015 

Nevada 3,750  3,000 

Orange    "  343,487  235,112 

Placer    451,160  48,707 

Riverside    »  13,270  13,542 

Hiicramento ="  392,742  1^28,55:; 

San  Benito 09,006  73,175 

San    Bernardino    427,791  206,251 

San  Diego ^  539.210  384,965 

San  Francisco "  18,500  16,250 

San  Joaquin 569,579  102,737 

San  Mateo 46,090  29,79S 

Santa   Barbara 80,994  57,243 

Santa  Clara 406.280  345,049 

Santa    Cruz    =»  18,666  14,625 

Shasta 82,517  59,829 

Sierra    5,200  3,050 

Siskiyou    10.960  8,200 

Solano 15,000  12,000 

Sonoma 160,153  63,543 

Stanislaus    224,426  172,256 

Tehama     6,000  4,000 

Tulare 25,235  12,735 

Tuolumne 6.600  2.500 

Ventura    «■  132,133  105,800 

Yolo 38,430  23,060 

Yuba    "  222.558  137,288 

Colusa,  Madera.  Marin,  Mendocino,  Plumas* 151.678  111,575 


Totals 13,315,908  $7,722,247 

*  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
■>  Includes  molding  sand. 

''  Includes  plaster  and  brick  sand. 

'^  Crushed  volcanic  cinders. 

■1  Includes  molding,  blast,  filter,  stucco,  plaster,  and  roofing  sand. 

^Includes  plaster  sand  and  roofing- gravel. 

*  Includes  roofing  gravel. 

Included  in  the  above  is  a  total  of  45,964  tons  of  molding  sand, 
valued  at  $76,974  f.o.b.  pit,  from  two  operators  in  Alameda  County, 
and  one  each  in  Contra  Costa,  Monterey,  Riverside,  Sacramento,  San 
Diego,  San  Francisco,  Santa  Cruz,  Ventura,  and  Yuba.  This  item  is 
each  year  assuming  a  more  important  position  in  the  commercial 
mineral  list  of  California.  The  1924  figures  totaled  82,968  tons 
and  $68,105. 

Crushed  Rock. 

To  list  the  kinds  and  varieties  of  rock  utilized  commercially  under 
this  heading  would  be  to  run  almost  the  entire  gamut  of  the  classifica- 
tion scale.  ]\Iuch  deiiends  on  the  kind  available  in  a  given  district. 
Those  Avhich  give  the  most  satisfactory  .service  are  tlie  basalts  and  other 
hard,  dense,  igneous  rocks  which  break  with  sharp,  clean  edges.     In 


STATISTICS    OF    xVNNUAL    PRODUCTION.  87 

many  localities,  river-wajsh  boulders  form  an  important  source  of  sucli 
material.  In  such  cases,  combined  crushing  and  wasliing  plants  obtain 
varying  amounts  of  sand  and  gravel  along  with  the  crushed  sizes.  In 
Sacramento  and  Butte  counties  the  tailings  piles  from  the  gold  dredgers 
are  tlie  basis  of  like  operations. 

The  values  given  are  based  on  the  selling  prices,  f.o.b.  cars,  barges, 
or  trucks,  at  the  ({uarry. 


88 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


r-  o  ^  OiO 

^cseo-^^cvs— *eo 

CO 

oor^  r^oo  00  CO  osci-^oor^o  CO  cooties 

oooo 

IO  'rf 

CI 

1 

oo^ccor-ot^ogot--eooor^ocicco^»oc^<Moowogoooeoc^i 

CiCJ 

ooo 

-1*  -rt« 

t^oo 

V 

S      gSS"o'     SSS^^'S'^* 

CTst^^oocM^oooooa:      ira-^ooiot-iQ 

cfco' 

oo'i-' 

-Jt' 

3 

CC(Ma300Cl'-'iO:0'^000        i-iio«D        c^w 

•O  CO  ->  —  -1                     ^  CI 

CO 

IN  CO 

to_ 

*•                            ^' 

«» 

JS 

1 

i-> 

«:>0'^coQoooco»oco»o  —  cc 

ClC^liOl^if.-COOcOCOCO-^COCDf— cno-^co 

c;  CD 

o  -1*  CO  o  o  cr.  c-1  ic  CO  »c  -o  r~  o  J-.  '^  o  1^  CO 

cr-o6 

1-^  »C  1^  »0  t^^C^  iC  eO  OO  ^  '^  O  CM 

Ol^  —  CI-TroOOO»CQOOOOl^Cl»/^IMCOCJ 

co« 

CI 

c 

t^H       .cca-^"co"      Mjo'oiocico 

c-i'  <m'  as  co'  ic  en  3-;  im'  -ti'  o'  ic       o"-*  C-'  cf  o'  — ■ 

ai'o' 

o'— ■ 

co' 

o 

o      cr.  »^»coo      ci'^ecc^»c 

»0  O;  lO  IO  (M  OO  to  ■'I-  -^  -^  CO        *-<  to  <M         --co 

-r«    CO 

—  oo 

o 

H 

ic  -a<  «  -1                 .-.  PI 

coco 

o' 

-rj*       iu5t^ 

^    1 

(M^O      1  — 

O  Ooo  o 

to  CI   Tf  Tf         I         1 

o  — ^ 

1  M- 

o 

OD       1  '*  CT> 

o     . 

into  (t;     .o 

O  O  to  to 

O) 

GO       ■'-CO 

c._  -^^  CO  t--; 

.—  03t^  CO        ■ 

o_i^_o_ 

00 

00 

_3 

CO       !»COD 

o"  ; 

^'od-f'    '«■ 

-.'— 'co'co"  I    ; 

co'ci'o 

co' 

> 

T-      ,  Oi  »o 

(N    ; 

■^  o  to    1    ; 

CI 

-a 

oori ""     ; 

CO 

;co 

■^l 

•1 

•» 

•^ 

Tt<        i  ^»M 

va     < 

t^oo     '-* 

O  O  t^  -1' 

r,  CO  CD  -^     1     . 

o  — to 

1  CO 

C5 

a 

i-H       ,  CO  O 

-1*     ' 

r^  00  o     ;qo 

■<St  Ol^  -^ 

CD  COtOO      1      . 

O  050 

i-i 

in 

CM     ,-r  o 

IM      . 

O_so  !0     ;  ic 

—  O_00_CT=_ 

cotoco—     •     . 

Oto^ 

■  OT 

to 

c 

ic     ;  o'oT 

lO 

CvTtDCC      I  ^' 

^'cnwT    1     : 

ci'cp'o' 

r-T 

o 

CO  CC    ti           t-< 

Ort  .-■ 

coco-*    ;   ; 

o 

H 

«         ;  J3    CO 

C5  c<j  ji    ; 

■* 

ec 

1" 

o_ 

J              ' 

CO* 

OS      i       'O 

^    io    'c 

(M  o  '(i*  o  r^oi 

o    i 

CIO      'i 

COOOQO  CD 

to     I 

cs 

^      ,      lO 

CS      ■  O      1  O 

O  O  CD  O  IC  O 

CO  O  O  00  -t* 

o     . 

QJ 

■*.    '     '  '^_ 

t--     .  o     i  «cr^ 

oo_o.mo_io  •<■_ 

to      1 

—•CI      ' 

co_0_0_r^  — 

0O_ 

^ 

o    ;    '.to 

■^*     1  V      1  »f3" 

o'         ' 

Oto'ci'       CD 

oo     I 

? 

oo_  ;       :— . 

CO  CI       CI  0-.  r^ 

CI      1 

cj  : 

to 

GJ 

•^ 

e*     I     1 

CO 

a 

»» 

o 

-H         ;«         It^ 

^  CO  CO  CO  CO  o 

1^    I 

coo 

^ogoce 

C5        i 

O 

l^     1     1  T*< 

OS      .CO      no 

to  00  C5  CO  CO 'rj* 

coo 

CO      1 

(»      1      >!-- 

CO  to  ^  CO  ^'  — 

CI      1 

CO_^iO 

-;f  CO  S  -*i  to 

CO      • 

tO_ 

C! 

cm'  '.    ;  lo" 

c<r    '  a^    '  lo' 

tCoo'— 'cc't-o" 

co'     ' 

CO 

o'co'     "^  — 

o'    ', 

CD 

o 

"*                       (M 

CI  CO        CI  00  to 

CI                     CJ 

H 

^    1        1— 1 

-r 

CO      1 

TiT 

o    1    It-o^ 

coo      1      1      1 

OOOCOOT— ' 

to  ;  1  ; 

00 

CO 

—.-*.,    1 

Ot^  CO  CO  CO 

o;  CI  CO  toco 

1 

_3 

^    1     Ic^'o'oo' 

■*'^*    1    (     1 

co'o"^'"^'^'" 

tC 

O         CO-H 

> 

II      c^*^ 

c^        ',',', 

c 

O      1      '  CD  O  »C 

o>ra     1     1     'i 

O  CD  CC  -^  CO 

o      1      1      1 

o- 

Is 

0000      1      1      . 

O  ^  l-^  CO  o 

CO      1      1      1 

o( 

^ 

^^H         .1 

o  Tjt  ^  ^  icr 

«    1    1    1 

1 

c 

'     '  »o"co^t^ 

o-'cK    1    !    1 

co'co'cj-crfsi 

o 

o' 

o 

1       1         lO**** 

"*         III 

to      c 

CO 

H 

oo 

^00*00000'*     lOcooe^ 

— 1     ioooojco^oocjt^otoco     !co 

OO 

^ 

GOOOOO-^CD^H      .oot^o- 

1a 

<D 

■-#  CO  O  00  OS  Tt*  »0  05       .tOcDOOC^ 

S     iocotO'j'^coto.oococo  ^_ro    i  S 

"^ 

cs 

rt 

^ 

1— r    -^'f-'c-f o-f    -^  'oTcjoc^'t^ 

'co'    :cD'cft~'oo"o'co'r~"--rco'      lo'to'co'    ;  co' 

cT 

CO 

OO                  -H          CO          <M        ',  t^          r-<* 

CO    ;cort      cotoco           CO      rfoco     ; 

=> 

ta 

cQ 

.2 

> 

^    > 

cf 

1 

e^ 

iC3  0eCt^O»OOiO      iOiCCDC 

Joo     iootocooojoorrcooi^os    ico 

^^ 

to 

03 

t^OCOWOiCOO      lOwOt- 

•  ■^     icoooo  toc)  coot^cq  r^ooo 'fl*     i  co 

05 

1^ 

"9 

C»  no  CO  "^l^b-^^Cl^O  l^      '  iC '«:P  (Tl  C- 

o 

(M         Iff  Cj"  ^"^  CT         O       ;  CD  O"  »C  ^ 

*ci"    I  cfto  to'o'crTto'o'^'co'      o'coco'    ;o 

oo' 

oo' 

CI      ;iO         -(COiOCl— 1         to        — ICOCI      , 

■^ 

'^. 

•§  : 

a    I 

'5    1 

s  ; 

m  i 

'  c"   1 

a    1 
cc    1 

'1 ; 

'   O      ' 

■o    1 

;i-5    ; 

Sl 

c 

1^. 

;1  -1 
;«  Io- 

°  t? 

;  c    1  13 

o^ 

C 

—  3 

Ice   ;  £ 

K=°» 

s"  P  » 

g^T 

3  Jr     '  *-« 

30^'   ^ 

:  i  i|  i  i 
J  1  ;  o  -2  -S 

'M    1    1  CI     ' 

i'iio''2''t'' 

1      l°iScb£Cm"c3.S      1      i_ 

1      '     '  c 

11^ 

-  o"— 

'41 

■p  . ;    ;  J,  o  o 

j^.d.|-§  a" 

3  fc  2  gpaP^iH^jS  c3  c3-|  g.bg  i--^  = 

<<£iO(- 

2M>: 

?;e 

^(ScBCC!»0 

Q;a 

oc/:aja 

ja^cci? 

■^Q 

CHHH> 

■< 

^^i.       -s* 

1 

I 


STATISTICS    OF    AXXl'AL    PRODUCTION. 


89 


Miscellaneous  Stone  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  amount  and  value,  annually,  of  crushed  rock  (including 
macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  riprap,  and  that  for  concrete),  and  sand  and 
iiravel,  since  1893,  follow : 

Crushed  Rock,  Sand  and  Gravel,  by  Years. 


Tear                        Tons              Value 

1 
Tear                       Tons 

Value 

1893 _—          371,100 

1894 661.900 

1895 1,254,688 

1896 960.619 

1897     -.        —         821,123 

$45.6.075 
664,838 

1,095.939 
839,884 
600,112 

1910— 5.827.828 

1911 6.487,223 

1912 8.044.937 

1913 9.817,616 

1914 9.288.397 

1915 10.879,497 

'1916 9,951,089 

1917 8,069,271 

1918 6,641,144 

1919 6.919.188 

1920 9,792,122 

1921 10,914,145 

1922   13.049.644 

1923   19.840,301 

1924 21.4.51.129 

.$2,777,090 
3,610.357 
4,532,598 
4,823.056 
3.960,973 
4.609,278 
4,009.590 
3,505.662 
3,325,889 
3.678.322 
6.782,414 
7,834.640 
10,.366,231 
15.379.838 
15.062.476 

1898 1,177.365 

814,477 

786,892 

561,642 

641,037 

1,249,529 

1,673,591 

1,641,877 

1.716,770 

1,418,406 

1.915.010 

3.241.774 

2,708,326 

1899 964,898 

1900 789,287 

1901 530,396 

1902 2.056,015 

1903 2,215,625 

1904      --                           2.296.898 

1905 2,624,257 

1906 1.555,372 

1907 2.288.888 

lit  2  5 

23  819  1S7 

17  407  113 

V'"^ 3.998.945 

Totals 

0 1      5,531.561 

210.891.605 

134. .592,311 

A  comparison  of  the  above  table  of  annual  production  of  these 
materials  with  the  similar  table  for  cement  (see  ante),  reveals  the  fact 
that  the  important  growth  of  the  crushed  rock  and  gravel  business  has 
been  coincident  with  the  rapid  development  of  the  cement  industry 
from  the  year  1902. 


90 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  FIVE. 


INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS. 

li'thluKjrdphii:  State  Mineral op-ist  Ileports  XIl-XXII  (inc.).    Jdul 
letin  ;}8.     Min.  &  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  11-1:,  :\Iarch  10,  1917.     Spun- 
and   Worinser,   "Marketing  of  Metals  and  Minerals."     "Non 
Metallic    ^Minerals, "    by    R.    B.    Ladoo.      See    also    under    each 
substance. 

The  following'  mineral  su])stances  have  been  arbitrarily  arrange*  1 
under  the  general  heading  of  'Industrial  Materials,'  as  distinguishcil 
from  tliose  which  have  a  clearly-defined  classification,  such  as  metals, 
salines,  structural  materials,  etc. 

These  materials,  many  of  which  arc  mineral  earths,  are,  with  four  oi- 
five  exceptions,  as  yet  produced  on  a  comparatively  small  scale.  The 
po.ssibilities  of  development  along  several  of  these  lines  are  large,  and 
with  increasing  transjiortation  and  other  facilities,  together  with  stead- 
ily growing  demands,  the  future  for  this  ))i-ancli  of  the  mineral  industry 
in  (California  is  promising.  There  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the  state  but 
might  contribute  to  the  output. 

I^p  to  within  the  last  few  years,  at  least,  production  has  been  in  the 
majority  of  instances  dependent  upon  more  or  less  of  a  strictly  local 
market,  and  the  annual  tal)les  show  the  results  of  such  a  condition,  not 
onh'  in  the  widely-varying  amounts  of  a  certain  material  produced  from 
year  to  year,  but  in  widely-varying  jn-ices  of  the  same  material. 

The  more  important  of  these  minerals  thus  far  exploited,  so  far  as 
shown  by  value  of  the  output,  are  limestone,  mineral  water,  pyrites, 
pottery  clays,  diatomaceous  earth,  gypsum,  talc,  and  dolomite. 

This  group  as  a  whole  showed  a  slight  increase  in  the  tota.  value  to 
.+5,379,06-1  in  1925  from  $5,112,812  for  1924. 

The  following  table  gives  the  compai'ative  figures  for  the  amouni> 
and  values  of  industrial  minerals  produced  in  California  during  the 
vears  1924  and  1925 : 


1924 

1925 

Increa8e+ 

Decrease — 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Asbestos. - . 

70  tons 

417,928  tons 

28,843  tons 

9,055  tons 

5,290  tons 

S4,750 

651,857 

71,271 

68,112 

67,295 

4,800 

53,210 

582,660 

2,269 

5,234 

818,726 

33,404 

517,835 

35,006 

242,770 

"1,953,613 

537,587  tons 

42,852  tons 

8,165  tons 

5,280  tons 

$674,376 
104,900 
59,615 
91,842 
10,663 
172,444 
494,525 

, 

Clay  (pottery). 

S22.519+ 
33,629+ 
8,497— 
24,547+ 
5,863+ 
119,234+ 
88.135— 
9  269 

Dolomite 

Feldspar 

Fuller's  earth .. 

Gems ..     

Gypsum... 

25,569  tons 

219,476  tons 

109  tons 

532  tons 

8,159,211  gals. 

4,919  tons 

124,214  tons 

6,808  tons 

16,179  tons 

107,613  tons 
319.977  tons 

Lithia __ 

Mineral  paint 

669  tons 

12,115,072  gals. 

5,319  tons 

129,500  tons 

12,498  tons 

15,465  tons 

6,969 
1,230,455 
32,937 
528,550 
96,780 
239,084 
1>1,635,924 

1  735-1- 

Mineral  water . 

411,729+ 

467— 

10,.  15+ 

61.774+ 

3,686— 

317  689 

Pumice  and  volcanic  ash 

Pvrites. .. 

Silica  (sand  and  quartz) 

Soapstone  and  talc . 

I'napportioned 

Total  value 

$5,112,812 

$5,379,064 

Net  increase . 

$266,252+ 

•Under  'unapportioncd.' 

»  Includes  diatomaceous  earth,  shale  oil,  sillimanite-andalusite,  sulphur,  mica  schist,  radio  galena  crystals. 

^  Includes  asbestos,  diatomaceous  earth,  graphite,  shale  oil,  sillimanite-andalusite. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


91 


ASBESTOS. 

BibJioyvaphy:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIT-XIX  (inc.),  XXII. 
Bulletins  38,  91.  Canadian  Dept.  of  M.,  Mines  Branch  Bulletin 
69.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  April  10,  1920,  pp.  531-533.  Eng.  &  Min. 
Jour.-Press,  Vol.  113,  pp.  617-625,  670-677. 

In  1925  there  was  a  small  tonnage  of  crude  asbestos  ore  and  fibre 
produced  in  California,  but  as  there  was  only  a  single  operator,  the 
figures  are  concealed  under  the  Tnapportioned'  item. 

The  future  of  asbestos  mining  in  California  is  dependent  largely 
upon  the  development  of  uses  in  (juantity  for  the  short-fibre  mill 
grades,  and  for  the  ampiiil.ole  variety.  There  are  apparently  large 
resources  of  such  material  that  can  be  made  available.  8ome  spinning- 
grade  fibre  has  also  been  found  in  this  state,  notably  in  Nevada,  Cala- 


Asbestos  fiberizing  mill  of  the  San  Benito  Asbestos  Companj-,  San  Benito  County. 
Photo  by  C.  McK.  Laizure. 

veras,  and  Monterey  counties,  but  the  commercial  yield  to  date  has  been 
small.  There  are  extensive  serpentine  areas  in  the  Coast  Ranges,  in 
the  Klamath  Mountains,  and  in  sevei'al  sections  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountains  which  are  within  the  range  of  po.ssible  asbestos  producers, 
as  chrysotile  is  a  fibrous  form  of  serpentine.  These  localities  all  yielded 
chromite  in  greater  or  less  amounts  during  the  World  War  period. 

Three-quarters  of  the  Avorld's  supply  of  asbestos  is  produced  by 
Canada.  The  accompanving  chart  shows  the  range  of  prices  at  Quebec, 
1922-1925  (inc.). 


n>) 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


NOX     XbOHS     b'Sd    SMV-nOQ 


0^<Dh*  «£  irt 


•09(3 

•AON- 
130- 

•;des  ■ 
•3nv  ■ 

N    eunr  ■ 

-  ^m- 

•jdy  - 

•qaj- 
•uip  ■ 
•390- 
•AON 
13(J 

•jdeg  . 
•3nv 

^  ^i-r- 

0)  ©unp  ■ 
•jdy  ■ 

•JBl^- 

•qaj. 
•uep  . 
•oaQ 

■AON- 

•po- 

•jdog  - 
•8nv  - 

to   -^i^r- 

^  Xe^  ■ 
•Jdy  ■ 
•jeiM- 
•qaj. 

•U8p  ■ 
•OSQ  . 
•AON- 

■po- 

Bny  ■ 

•Jdy  ■ 

•q9j  . 
■u'ep  . 

•»9a- 


1 1 

,-    ^.  --.,+--,+    ^   .— Ja,  -,-    -l_ 

J 

,...'..... fe!§->:.1tt: 

I 

1             /                                              ln<^                            1 

\_.l...'!, .._.!.__,  ..._.4h_  7t_  1 

--Ul-— 

1 

T                                       "^     ^ 

A 

i  _  ...I ,      o 

V  ...'^.....V..A__.  f 

\_... i 

i t 

\ 

|:>-.-4li it 

t 

'I                ^  X 

,-'- 

.._/.. .£t...LJ.i_4_L.._.^        "^^   J_ 

Is     /   f    /'^              ? 

"/  "'t      r~"1    "  ^  ~    '" 

:::.:..r. 8 tl..  x  ._ 

.4   ^.|....Ste...    7. 

i  _     i.___\  4r__ 

.._i_._4,...4y-_.-g   ....L        -=^ 

/ 

A  _..:.  -. g._-.o  ...:^_     _z 

I 

.       ,..+  .!  .    .4>.      . 

h 

.  L ^l.T 1 

t                   h    tt                     — f- 

M 

__J.._., 

/_ j_ . ,/ ^  ......       z 

1    1 

f    <. 

.t.  t::  .::: J4gft:     7-  4_ 

o 
z. 

.s/....  - i_.4  .^.L__  V__ 

^^     II 

.I't-  - <^--4  i.-iij— 

■*"         ( 

-l+H'^ 

ID            T                          I  N         7 

7                      UJ                                                  Z     ^^            1-   / 

L 

^_    s 

2              w                              5             o 

W        1                  ^fY                                                      O       ,                   li. 

I 

J          f 

.^/./3^\ \  ....S,_  5:± 

^          1 

J :8$    r      t 

,/ 

.' 

.3{...,...Q?r.J .7 r_    L" 

_  .!,..- 

..,..:L_ia ^.  ....A_     '  _ 

1 

/  .-- 

A,  .At \      ^     r 

1 

f'-'-  -ti/                    \ 

' 

X :..:..:_"    "" 

1 ,,'.'.: 

A  I    -  jt            J 

L^:::.-- 

// 

/_ ,^:i /_  ..,."!, --^      J 

H 

%%.... 

\ l\ (      '\   "--., 

/     . 

^__ /... 

.> L. .._.       ._.\ 

'i 

...J z    ......\     " 

''     J 

i 

., .., z_    I     t 

'      /' 

llZl'y 

_.,-:._.? i_    __^y: 

1 

( 

I -_ ._    _-    _:_ 

ooo  o  o    o 


oo  o  o  o    o 
o  ff.  a)  h  w    ui 


o  <n  o  1^  <0  10 


Nox  xaoHS   a3d  ?;bv-noa 


STATIiSTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


93 


Ibestos  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 
Total  amount  and  value  of  asbestos  production  in  California  since 
'  1887,  as  given  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau,  are  as  follows : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

30 
30 
30 
71 
66 
30 
50 
50 
25 

$1,800 
1,800 
1,800 
4.260 
a960 
1,830 
2,500 
2,250 
1,000 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

70 

70 

65 

200 

125 

90 

47 

51 

143 

145 

136 

229 

131 

410 
50 
20 
70 

* 

$3,500 

1888 

6,100 

6.500 

20  0OO 

1889 

1890 _. 

1891  — 

1911 

500 

1892 

1912 ..      _ 

2,700 

1893  

1913 

1,175 

1894 

1914 

1,530 

1895        

1915 

2  860 

1896 

1916 

2,380 

1897 

1917 - 

10,225 

1898 — 

10 

30 

60 

110 

200 

750 
1.250 
4,400 

1918 

1919  <   * 

9,903 

1899 

6,240 

1900 

1920  i     

1921           „■      — - 

1901 

19,275 

1902 

1922         

1,800 

1903 

1923 

200 

1904 .„. 

10 

112 

70 

162 
2.625 

S,500 

1924 

1!"25 

4,750 

* 

1905 

Totals 

1906 

2,826 

$133,725 

•Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 


BARYTES. 


Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVIT, 
XXI.     Bulletin  38.     En"-.  &  ]\lin.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  114,  p.  109, 
I  July  15,  1922 ;  Vol.  115,  pp.  319-324,  Feb.  17,  1923. 

I  There  were  no  commercial  shipments  of  crude  barytes  in  California 
;  during  1924-1925.  In  1923,  the  output  amounted  to  a  total  of  2925 
jtons  valued  at  $16,058  f.  o.  b.  rail-shipping  point.  The  1923  product 
!came  mainly  from  Nevada  County,  with  smaller  amounts  from  Mariposa 
and  Shasta  counties,  and  was  consumed  principally  in  the  manufacture 
!of  lithopone.  More  than  half  of  the  total  tonnage  of  barytes  utilized 
'in  the  Ignited  States  is  taken  in  the  manufacture  of  lithopone,  which  is 
'a  chemically-prepai'ed,  white  pigment  containing  approximately  70% 
'barium  sulphate  and  30^/f  zinc  suliihidc  This  is  one  of  the  principal 
I  constituents  of  'flat'  Avail  paints. 

I  The  principal  use.s  for  barytes,  after  washing  and  grinding,  are  as 
Ian  inert  pigment  and  fillei-  in  paint,  ])aper,  linoleum,  oilcloth  and 
'rublx'i-  manufacture,  and  in  the  preparation  of  lithopone  and  a  number 
of  chemicals.  The  most  important  of  such  chemicals,  other  than  litho- 
pone, are:  barium  binoxide  (used  in  |>reparation  of  hydrogen 
peroxide)  ;  barium  carbonate  (u.sed  by  pressed  brick  and  by  rubber 
manufacturers  to  n(Mitralize  sulphur  content)  ;  l)arium  chloride  (used 
in  battery  plates,  and  as  a  mordant  by  rlry-color  manufacturers,  and 
in  tanning  leather"!  :  barium  nitrate  (used  in  munitions  and  in  making 
'red  fire'  material)  :  bai'iuni  suli)hat(>  precipitated,  or  'blauc  fixe'  (used 
in  rubber  manufacture;  for  painting  on  interior  steel  of  l)attleships 
and  other  sea-going  vessels;  also  as  a  detector  in  taking  X-ray  iiictures 
of  the  human  body). 


94 


MINIORAI.    INDUR'l'RY    OF    CAIJFORNIA. 


Present  quotations  I'or  barytes  vary  from  $7  to  $9  per  ton,  crude, 
f.o.l).  rail-shipping-  point,  dependinji'  on  quality.  Most  baryte  has  ti) 
he  washed  and  aeid  treated  to  i-enioNc  iron  stiiiiis  ov  other  impurities 
before  bein^  suitable  toi-  iniint  use. 

Known  occuri-eTU'es  of  this  miiicfiil  in  ( 'jilil'oniia  iirc  located  in  Inyo, 
Los  Anjieles.  Mariposa,  .Monterey,  Nevada,  San  Bernardino,  Shasta  and 
Santa  Barbara  counties.  Tlie  deposit  at  VA  Portal,  in  Mariposa  County, 
has  given  the  largest  counnercial  production  to  date,  in  part  witheritc 
(barium  carbonate,  BaCOJ.  Witherite  has  also  been  found  in  Sliast;i 
County,  but  no  shipments  have  yet  been  made  from  the  deposit. 

Total    Barytes   Production   of   California, 

The  first  recorded  production  of  barytes  in  California,  according  to 
the  statistical  reports  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  was  in  1910.  The 
annual  figures  are  as  follows : 


Tear 


Tons 


1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
L916 
1917 


860 

309 

564 

1,600 

2.000 

410 

1,606 

4,420 


Value 


$5,640 
2,207 
2,812 
3.680 
3,000 
620 
5.516 

25,633 


Tear 


1918 
1919 
1920 

1921 
1922 
1923 

1924 
]!)2r, 


Tons 


Totals- 


100 
1.501 
3,029 

901 
3.370 
2,925 


23,595 


Value 


$1,500 
18,065 
20,795 

4,809 
18,925 
16.058 


$129,260 


CLAY     (Pottery). 

BiUiograpJuj:  State  Minerahigist  Reports  I,  IV,  IX,  XII-XA\ 
XVIII-XXII  (inc.).  Bulletin  38.  Preliminary  Report  No.  7. 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards,  Tech.  Paper  No.  262. 

At  one  time  or  another  in  the  history  of  the  state,  pottery  clay  has 
been  quarried  in  thirty-three  of  its  counties.  Of  these,  20  contributed 
in  1925.  In  this  report,  'pottery  clay'  refers  to  all  clays  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  red  and  brown  earthenware,  china  and  sanitary  ware, 
flowerpots,  floor,  faience  and  ornamental  tiling,  architectural  terra 
cotta,  sewer  i)ipe,  drain  and  roof  tile,  etc.,  and  the  figures  for  amount 
and  value  are  relative  to  the  crude  material  at  the  pit,  without  reference 
to  whether  the  clay  was  sold  in  the  crude  form  or  was  immediately  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  any  of  the  above  finished  products  by  the  pro- 
ducer. It  does  not  include  clay  used  in  making  ))rick  and  hollow 
l)uilding  blocks. 

There  are  many  otlier  important  uses  for  clays  besides  pottery  manu- 
facture. Among  these  may  be  enumerated  paper,  cotton  goods,  and 
chemicals.  Being  neutral,  clay  does  not  have  an  injurious  effect  upon 
other  constituents  used  in  the  manufaetui-e  of  such  ai-ticles.  In  paper  i 
making,  clay  is  used  as  a  filler  in  news  and  similar  grades,  and  as  a 
coater  or  glazer  in  the  more  liighly-finished  art  papers.  A  large  part 
of  the  china  clay  used  in  the  United  States  is  imported  from  England. 
Clays  of  the  montmorillonite  and  halloysite  group  ('rock  soap')  are 
being  utilized  successfully  in  the  manufacture  of  soaps. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


93 


During'  1925,  a  total  of  58  producers  in  20  counties  reported  an 
output  of  537,587  short  tons  of  ])ottery  clay,  liaviuju:  a  total  value  of 
.^674,376  f.  o.  I),  rail-shipping'  ])oint,  for  the  enide  material,  as  eoni- 
l)ared  with  the  1924  production  of  417,928  tons  worth  -1^651,858. 

Because  of  the  fact  that  a  given  product  often  requires  a  mixture  of 
several  ditt'erent  clays,  and  that  these  are  not  all  found  in  the  same  pit, 
it  is  necessary  for  most  clay-working  plants  to  buy  some  part  of  their 
raw  materials  from  other  localities.  For  these  reasons,  in  compiling 
the  clay  industry  figures,  much  care  is  requii-ed  to  avoid  duplications. 
So  far  as  we  .have  been  able  to  segregate  the  figures,  from  the  data  sent 
in  by  the  operatives,  we  have  credited  tlie  clay  output  to  the  counties 
from  which  the  raw  material  originated ;  and  have  deducted  tonnages 
used  in  ])rick  manufacture,  as  bricks  are  classified  separately,  herein. 

A  tabulation  of  the  direct  returns  from  the  iiroducers,  by  counties, 
for  the  vear  1925,  is  shown  herewith  : 


Pottery    Clay,    in    1925. 


County 

Tons           Value 

Used  in  the  manufacture  of — 

Alameda 

Amador 

9,300 

63,889 

217,707 

414 
13,431 
102,598 

74,789 

1,363 

»1,540 

t>26,976 

2,390 
1,516 

21,674 

S11.376 

95,946 
106,817 

1.161 
42.562 
138,813 

155,315 

2,748 
11,000 
66,427 

5,800 
3.216 

33,195 

Drain,  floor,  faience,  hand  made  and  roofing  tile,  sewer 

and  chimney  pipe,  flue  lining. 
Kalsomine,  refractories,  roofing  tile,  saggers,  sanitary 

ware,  sewer  pipe,  and  various. 

Monterey... __  

Oranse 

fire  clay,  electrical  conduit,  refractories,  various  and 

oil  well  mudding. 
Floor  and  roofing  tile. 
Refractories,  drain  tile  and  various. 

Placer.. _._ 

Riverside             .     . 

-Architectural  terra  cotta,  sewer  and  chimney  pipe,  flue 
lining,  drain,  floor  and  roofing  tile,  and  various. 

Sacramento 

San  Bernardino , .   - 

ous. 
Drain  tile  and  various. 
Porcelain. 

Santa  Barbara 

and  various. 
Drain,  floor  and  roofing  tile. 

Santa  Clara 

Calaveras,  Contra  Costa,  Fresno,  Hum- 
boldt,   Kern,    Marin,    Merced,    So- 
noma*  

Red  earthenware,  sewer  pipe,  roofing  and  drain  tile. 

Drain  and  roofing  tile,  sewer  and  chimney  pipe,  flue  lin- 
ing, architectural  terra  cotta,  crushed  brick  for  roofing, 
porcelain  and  various. 

Totals 

537,587 

$674,376 

^Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

"  Includes  kaolin. 

b  Includes  "Cornwall'  stone. 


96 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 


Pottery    Clay    Products. 

The  values  of  tlie  various  pottery  clay  products  made  in  California 
during-  192r)  totaled  $i:5,621,4''il,  compared  with  .$12,0ir);ifil  in  1924. 
their  distribution  l)eiu<^'  siio-\vn  in  the  following  tabulation: 

N}imJ)cr  of 

Product                                                                              producers         Tons  Value 

Architectural    terra   cotta 0  17.0GS  $2,677, 8rir> 

Chimney  pipe,  terra  cotta  and  flue  lining H  14,484  5:^5  887 

Drain    tile i;!  7,7:i3  12G,;{GU 

Hoofing    tile IS  48,327  1,. 394, 108 

Sewer    pipe ]0  88,360  2,217,151 

.Stoneware  and  chemical   stoneware (i                  362,370 

Sanitary   ware .'>                  2,178,623 

('hinaware  and  .semi-vitreous  tableware 3                 569,182 

Hed  eartlienware 6                  164,071 

Floor,  faience,  mantel,  glazed  and  hand-made  tile_  20                  2,419,583 

Miscellaneous  ai-t  pottery,  bisque  doll  heads  and 
ohinaware,  porcelain,  cement,  brick  dust,  glass 
tank  blocks,  garden  furniture,  crushed  tile,  elec- 
trical conduit,  conduit  pipe,  fire  tile  and  ground 

fire  clay 14                 970,241 

Total    value $13,621,431 

Important  increases  were  shown  by  several  of  the  above  groups, 
particnlarly  chimney  pipe,  sewer  pipe,  roofing  tile,  and  flat  tile  (floor, 
faience,  mantel,  etc.). 


Pottery    Clay    Production    of   California,    by    Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  crude  pottery  clay  output  in  California  .since 
1887  are  given  in  the  following  table: 


Year 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
190O 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1906 
1906 


75,000 

$37,500 

75,000 

37,500 

75,000 

37,500 

100,000 

50,000 

lOO.OOO 

50.000 

100,000 

50,000 

24.856 

67,284 

28,475 

35.073 

37,660 

39,685 

41.907 

62,900 

24.592 

30,290 

28,947 

33,747 

40,600 

42,700 

59,636 

60,956 

55.679 

39,144 

67,933 

74,163 

90,972 

99.907 

84.149 

81.952 

183.805 

130,146 

167.267 

162,283 

1907 I     160,385 

1908 I     208.042 

1909 i     299,424 


1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924- 

192,1 


249.028 
224.576 
199.605 
231,179 
179,948 
157,866 
134,636 
166,298 
112,423 
135,708 
203.997 
225,120 
277,232 
376,863 
417.928 
,537.587 


$254,454 
325,147 
465,647 
324.099 
252,759 

215,683 
261,273 
167,552 
133.724 
146,538 
154,602 
166.788 
245.010 
440,689 
362,172 
473.184 
697,841 
651,857 
674,37t; 


Totals   '    5,909,323      $7,636,134 


DOLOMITE. 

BiUiograph}/:  Eeports  XV,  XVII-XXII  (inc.).    Bulletins  67,  91. 

The  production  of  dolomite  for  the  year  1925  totaled  42,8;")2  tons 
valued  at  $104,900,  being  an  increase  in  both  (luantity  and  value  over 
the  1924  figures  of  28,84;:!  tons  and  $81,271,  though  less  than  the 
record  yield  of  1923.  Tlie  1925  output  came  from  two  quarries  in 
Inyo  Connty  and  one  each  in  San  Benito  and  Tuolumne.    The  material 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


97 


sliipped  was  utilized  for  s^eel  furnace  flux  and  refractories,  for  manu- 
facture of  COo,  burned  dolomitic  lime,  for  stucco  dash-coat,  and  ter- 

VH'/.y.o. 

Dolomite   Production   of   California,   by   Years. 

Previous  to  the  1915  statistical  I'eport  of  tlie  State  ^linin<2:  l)Ureau, 
dolomite  was  included  under  limestone,  as  the  tAvo  minerals  are  closely 
related  chemically;  but  since  dolomite,  as  such,  )ias  l)een  found  to 
have  certain  distinctive  applications,  we  liave  o-iven  it  a  sepai'ate 
classification. 

Amount  and  value  of  the  ()ut])ut  of  (h»lomite,  annually,  have  been  as 
follows : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

litl.')... 

4,192 
13,313 
27,911 
24,560 
24,502 
42,388 
31,195 
52,409 
69,519 
28,843 
42,852 

$14,504 

1910 

46,566 

1917 -   - - .   . 

66,416 

1918 .                     

79,441 

1919 ..   .  .  .. 

67,953 

1920.  - . 

132,791 

1921...  

99,155 

1922... 

114,911 

1923- .                      .   . 

142,615 

1924 ...  

71,271 

1923  ...                                          .   _ 

104,900 

Totals-.  .  .  - 

361,684 

S940,523 

FELDSPAR. 

Bihliodraphy:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  XV,  XVII,  XVIIT, 
XXI.  Bulletins  67,  91.  U.  S.  Bureau  of  IMines,  Bulletin  92. 
Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  535-538,  Mar.  24,  1923. 

Feldspar  was  produced  b.v  eight  operators  in  three  counties  (Kern, 
Riverside,  and  San  Diego)  during  1925,  to  the  amount  of  8165  tons, 
valued  at  $59,615.  being  a  slight  decrease  both  in  quantity  and  value 
from  the  1924  figures,  whicli  were  9055  tons  and  $68,112. 

The  requirements  of  the  pottery  trade  demand  that  in  general  the 
percentage  of  free  silica  associated  with  the  feldspar  be  less  than  20%, 
and  in  some  cases  the  potters  specify  less  than  5%.  An  important 
factor,  also,  is  the  iron-bearing  minerals  frequently  present  in  pegma- 
tites and  granites,  such  as  biotite  (black  mica),  garnet,  hornblende,  and 
Mack  tourmaline.  Feldspar  for  pottery  uses  should  be  practically  free 
of  these.  The  white,  potash-mica,  muscovite,  is  not  particularly  objec- 
tionable except  that,  being  in  thin,  flexible  plates,  it  does  not  readily 
gi-ind  to  a  fineness  re(iuired  for  the  feldspar. 

Pi-esent  (inotations  are  from  $5  to  $8  per  ton,  crude,  according  to 
quality. 

Tlie  most  important  recent  developments  in  the  feldspar  resources 
if  California  have  taken  place  in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties, 
where  large  deposits  of  massive,  high-grade  spar  are  being  opened  up. 
These  deposits  are  unusually  free  from  black  mica  and  other  deleterious 
iron-bearing  minerals  objectionable  in  pottery  work.  Tiie  important 
producing  districts  are  near  Lakeside  and  Campo,  in  San  Diego  County, 

7 — 47818 


98 


MINERAf.    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


and  near  LakevicAN,  IMui'i-ietta,  and  Elsinoro,  in  Iliversido  C^onnt^y. 
No  recent  sliii)nients  have  been  reported  i'l-oiii  Monterey  and  Tulare 
eoiinties,  foi'inei'ly  iiii])oi'taiit  sources. 

Total    Feldspar    Production    of    California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  feldspar  production  in  California  since 
liie  inception  of  the  industry  are  ^iven  in  the  follo\vin<;  table,  by  years: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1910  -             

760 
740 
1,382 
2,129 
3,530 
1,800 
2,630 
11,792 
4,132 

$5,720 

4,560 

6,180 

7,850 

16,565 

9,000 

14,350 

46,411 

22,061 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1,272 
4,518 
4,349 
4,587 
11,100 
9,055 
8,165 

§12,965 

1911...   

26,189 

1912.    

28,343 

1913 

37,109 

1914...    ...    

1923. _ 

1924 

81,800 

1915.    ..   ...   ..        ..   . 

68,112 

1916            

1925 

Totals 

.59,615 

1917 

1918 

71,941 

$446,825 

FLUORSPAR. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XVIT,  XVIII.  Bulle- 
tins 67,  91.  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  117,  pp.  489-492, 
Mar.  22,  1924. 

Fluorspar,  or  calcinm  fluoride,  CaF.,  is  one  of  the  most  important 
non-metallic  minerals  from  an  industrial  standpoint.  About  80% 
of  the  commercial  mineral  is  prepared  in  the  'gravel'  form  and  utilized 
as  a  flux  in  the  manufacture  of  steel,  for  which  use  no  substitute  has 
yet  been  found.  In  the  United  States,  under  normal  business  condi- 
tions, the  consumption  for  that  purpose  is  125,000  to  150,000  tons 
annually.  P^luorspar  is  also  used  in  aluminum  smelting,  and  in  the 
manufacturing  of  enameled  ware,  glazed  tile  and  brick,  opalescent 
glass  and  certain  chemicals,  particularly  hydrofluoric  acid  and  its 
derivatives.  The  mineral  is  marketed  in  three,  forms:  lump,  gravel, 
and  ground. 

^  "Of  the  three  physical  forms  of  fluorspar  of  commerce,  lump,  gravel,  and  ground, 
two  grades  of  each  form  are  marketed.  Lump  and  gravel  are  sold  as  metallurgical 
or  fluxing  grades,  and  acid  grades ;  ground  is  sold  as  glass-enamel-ceramic  grade, 
and  acid  grade.  Lump  spar  of  eitlier  grade  sliould  not  be  too  large,  and  small  lump, 
not  exceeding  6  in.  in  diameter,  is  preferred  by  the  trade.  Speciflcations  for  pliysical 
form  of  metallurgical  lump  spar  demand  a  minimum  content  of  gravel  fluorspar,  as 
fines,  in  any  carload,  say  not  exceeding  one  ton.  Metallurgical  gravel  spar  should 
not  be  too  fine,  and  coarse  gravel  with  minimum  content  of  fluorspar  sand,  as  fines, 
is  more  acceptable  to  the  trade.  Size  specifications  for  metallurgical  gravel  spar 
demand  that  it  shall  pass  through  a  1-in.  ring. 

"The  market  speciflcations  for  standard  fluorspar  in  any  form  are  mainly  chemical 
and  governed  by  analysis.  Ouaranteed  analysis  for  standard  metallurgical  or  fluxing 
grade  spar,  lump  or  gravel,  is  minimum  of  85  per  cent  calcium  fluoride,  and  maximum 
of  5  per  cent  silica.  Merchantable  grade  acid-spar,  lump,  gravel  and  ground,  varies 
somewhat  with  different  users.  Not  exceeding  2  per  cent  silica  and  under  97  per 
cent  calcium  fluoride  are  the  limits.  Part  of  the  trade  insists  on  a  guaranteed 
minimum  of  0  8  per  cent  calcium  fluoride  and  maximum  of  1  per  cent  silica,  though 
some  consumers  are  satisfled  with  a  guaranteed  m,inimum  of  07  per  cent  calcium 
fluoride  and  maximum  of  2  per  cent  silica.  (Uass-enamel-ceramic  grade  ground 
fluorspar  speciflcations  are  flexil)le,  the  users  of  that  class  of  spar  particularly 
demanding  flne  grinding,  preferably  150  to  200  mesh,  and  thorough  washing  free 
from  alumina ;  also  freedom  from  contamination  of  metallic  ores  and  barytes. 
Analyses  for  glass-enamel-cerainic  spjir  vary  from  90  to  05  per  cent  calcium  fluoride, 
2  to  5  per  cent  silica,  and  2  to  S  per  cent  calcium  carboimte. 

"The  usual  impurities  in  fluurspar  are  silica  and  calcium  carbonate,  which  are 
penalized,  as  a  rule.     Minor  imjiurities  in  fluorspar  are  ores  of  lead  and  zinc,  generally 


1  Reed,   A.  H.,   Marketing  of  fluorspar:   Kng.   &   Min.   Jour.-Press,   Vol.    117,   p.    4S9, 
Mar.  22,  1924. 


STATISTICS   OF   AXNUAL   PRODUCTION.  00 

the  sulphides,  and  pyrites  and  barytes,  all  of  which  are  objectionable,  and  sometimes 
])ina)ized. 

"No  premiums  are  allowed  on  fluorspar  shipments,  but  there  is  a  penalty  for 
inferior  material.  Trade  specifications  demand  that  for  each  point  of  calcium 
fluoride  less  than  85  per  cent  there  shall  be  deducted  l/85th  of  the  delivered  cost, 
and  for  each  point  of  silica  over  5  per  cent  there  shall  bo  deducted  l/40th  of  the 
delivered  cost." 

According  to  the  V.  8.  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce, 
imports  of  fluorspar  into  the  United  States  in  1925  amounted  to 
4"!. 482  long  tons,  valued  at  $468,847,  and  came  principally  from 
lingiand,  Avith  smaller  amounts  from  British  South  Africa,  Italy,  Cliiua, 
and  Xetiierlands.  Domestic  shij^ments  of  fluorspar,  according  to  the 
r.  S.  Geological  Survey,  totaled  11:3,660  short  tons,  valued  at  $2,():)2,:U2. 

In  California  deposits  liave  l)een  reported  in  Los  Angeles,  Mono. 
Riverside  and  Sau  Bernardino  counties,  but  no  commercial  production 
I  MS  resulted  except  in  1017-1918,  when  a  total  of  70  tons  valued  at 
■•r!)01  was  shipped  from  Riverside  County. 

Tlie  Tariff  Act  of  1022  places  a  duty  of  $.3.60  per  ton  on  foreign 
importations  of  fluorspar. 

Present  quotations  (Engineering  and  ^Mining  Journal-Pre.ss,  New 
York)  are  f.o.b.  Middle  Western  Klines,  per  net  ton:  Gravel,  not  less 
than  85%  CaF.  and  not  over  5%  SiO.,  $18;  foundry  lump,  $20. 

FULLER'S     EARTH. 

nihJirujraphij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XVII,  XVIII, 
XXI.  Bulletins  38,  01.  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  Bulletin  71. 
Eng.  &  Mill.  Jour.-Pres.s,  Vol.  121,  pp.  837-842,  :\lay  22,  1026. 

P  Fuller's  earth  includes  many  kinds  of  unctuous  clays.  It  is  usually 
'  soft,  friable,  earthy,  nonplastic,  white  and  gray  to  dark  green  in  color, 
and  some  varieties  disintegrate  in  water.  In  California,  fuller's  earth 
has  been  used  in  clarifying  both  refined  mineral  and  vegetable  oils, 
and  for  special  chemical  purposes;  although  its  original  use  was  in 
ftiUing  wool,  as  the  name  indicates.  Production  has  come  mainly  from 
Calaveras  and  Solano  counties,  with  other  deposits  noted  also  in 
Riverside,  Fresno,  Inyo,  and  Kern  counties. 

Clays  of  the  montmorillonite  and  lialloysite  group  ('rock  soap')  are 
bt'ing  utilized  by  some  of  the  oil  refineries  in  lien  of  true  fuller's  earth 
in  the  refining  of  petroleum  products. 

The  production  of  5280  tons  valued  at  $01,842  here  credited  to  1025 
as  'fuller's  earth'  is  in  reality  colloidal  clay  of  the  montmorillonite 
class  (sold  under  such  local  names  as  'bentonite, '  'otajdite, '  'shoshon- 
ite, '  derived  from  the  locality'  where  found).  Because  of  its  being  util- 
ized for  clarifying,  filtering,  and  cleanser  purposes,  most  of  it  in 
petroleum  refining,  we  have  placed  it,  for  the  purpo.se  of  the  State 
jlining  Bureau's  statistical  reports,  under  the  fuller's  earth  heading. 

After  all,  the  practical  test  of  a  fuller's  earth  is  not  so  much  chemical, 
as  a  physical  one ;  that  is,  its  physical  capacity  to  adsorb  basic  colors 
and  to  remove  these  colors  from  solution  in  animal,  vegetable,  or 
mineral  oils,  also  from  water. 

The  1025  output  above  noted  is  a  slight  decrease  in  amount  from 
the  5200  tons  but  an  increase  in  value  over  the  figure  of  $67,205  in 
1024,  and  came  from  five  properties,  in  Inyo,  Kern,  San  J>ernardiiio, 
and  San  Diego  counties. 


100 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Tlie  industrial  apijlicatioiis  of  the  iiiojitinorilloiiite  (or  'bentnnite,' 
as  it  is  more  eoiiniionly  referred  to)  <j:roni>  of  elays  are  nniiicrous. 
According  to  Melhase :' 

"Bentonito  lias  been  used  to  a  limited  extent  in  soaps  and  detergent  preparations, 
in  jiaints.  pifjineiits,  and  stove  polish.  Tests  indicate  that  it  may  have  a  further 
held  of  usefulnes.s  in  the  manufacture  of  cements  and  plaster.s,  in  the  ceramic 
industry,  and  in  the  preparation  of  dye.s,  emulsi<ins,  explosives,  and  fertilizers. 
Hortic-ultuial  sprays,  animal  dijjs,  lul)ricants,  and  absorbents  may  employ  bentonite 
as  an  ingredient.  Bentonite  is  used  in  de-inking  newspapers,  in  foundry  work,  in 
the  manufacture  of  pencils,  ciayons,  and  ink,  and  in  the  preparation  of  various 
pliainiacciiticals  and  cosmetics. 

"Beiitonites  in  which  the  characterizing  mineral  is  leverrierite  are  extensively 
used  i)i  the  preparation  of  water  softeners.  The  California  bentonites  are  used 
tdiiefly  Ijy  local  refineries  for  cleaning  heavy  lubricating  oils,  kerosene,  and  gasoline. 
In  preparing  the  bentonite  for  this  iiurpose,  it  is  first  dried  at  a  temperature  of  230 
deg.  V.  It  is  then  ground  to  an  impalpable  powder  and  treated  for  several  hours 
with  9{;  per  cent  sulphuric  acid,  about  45  per  cent  by  weight  of  acid  being  found 
more  efficient.  The  acid-soluble  impurities  being  thus  eliminated,  tlie  clay  is  then 
diained  and  thoi-oughly  washed  with  clean  water. 

"Refining   Processes. 

"The  prepared  clay  is  then  placed  in  agitators  together  with  the  oil  to  be  treated 
and  the  mixture  thoroughly  agitated  with  steam  at  240  to  300  deg.  F.  From  the 
agitators  the  mixture  goes  to  settling  tanks  and  then  to  filter  presses,  which  remove 
the  suspended  clay  from  the  now  decolorized  oil.  The  amount  of  clay  used  ranges 
from  1  lb.  per  barrel  for  gasoline  to  100  lb.  per  barrel  for  dark,  heavy,  lubricating 
oils.  The  efficiency  of  acid-treated  bentonite  is  much  greater  than  that  of  fuller's 
earth. 

"When  used  in  the  treatment  of  gasoline  or  light  oils  the  clay  may  be  used  several 
times  without  rejuvenation,  but  witli  the  darker  oils  it  becomes  necessary  to  wash 
and  rejuvenate  the  clay  after  each  application.  This  process  cannot,  however,  be 
continued  indefinitely,  as  the  clay  loses  a  portion  of  its  efficiency  with  each  rejuve- 
nation, and  after  the  third  treatment  it  is  found  more  satisfactory  to  replace  tlie 
old  clay  with  a  fresh  supply." 


Fuller's   Earth   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Fuller's  earth  was  first  produced  commercially  in  this  state  in  1899, 
and  the  total  amount  and  value  of  the  output  since  that  time  are  as 
follows : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1899 

620 
500 

1,000 
987 
250 
500 

1,344 
440 
100 
50 
459 
340 
466 
876 
460 

$12,400 

3.750 

19,500 

19,246 

4,750 

9,500 

38,000 

10,500 

1,000 

1,000 

7,385 

3,820 

5.294 

6,500 

3,700 

1914 

760 

692 

110 

220 

37 

385 

600 

1,185 

6.606 

3,650 

5,290 

5,280 

$5,928 

1900 

1915 .-  

4,002 

1901 

1916. 

550 

1902 

1917 

2,180 

1903 

1918. 

333 

1904 

1919 

3,810 

1905.  -  

1920 

1921 

6,000 

1906 

8,295 

1907 

1922.  .   . 

48,756 

1908 

1923. 

55,125 

1909.. 

1924 

1925 

Totals. 

67,295 

1910  .   .       

itl,>«2 

1911 

1912 

1913 

33,207 

$440,461 

Note. — Above  production  since  1921  has  been  montmorillonite  (liydrous  aluminum 
silicate)  a  collodial  clay,  sometimes  called  'rock  soap'  and  'bentonite,'  and  in  part 
locally  called  'shoshonite'  from  its  being  found  near  Shoshone  in  Inyo  County;  and 
in  part  'otaylite'  from  Otay,  San  Diego  County. 

GEMS. 

BibVioqvdplwi :  State  ^Mineralogist  Iieports  II,  XIV,  XV,  XVI 1, 
XVill,  XX,  XXI.  Bulletins  37,  67,  91.  U.  S.  G.  S..  'Mineral 
Resources  of  the  U.  S.';   P.ull.  603,  p.  208.     Bull.  Dept.  Geol. 

'Melhase.  John.  Mining  bentonite  in  California:  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  121, 
p.  842,  May  22.  192C. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  101 

Univ.  of  Cal.,  Vol.  fi,  pp.  14!)-] 5:5,  831-380.    Am.  .Jour.  Sci.,  Vol. 
31,  p.  31. 

The  ])ro(liiction  of  gem  materials  in  California  has  been  somewhat 
in-eo'ular  and  uncertain  sinee  liHl.  The  eomi)ilation  of  eonipletf; 
statistics  is  difticult  owino-  to  the  widely  scattered  places  at  which  stones 
;ire  <2:athered  and  marketed  for  the  most  part  in  a  small  way.  The 
material  reported  in  lf)2.")  totaled  $10,663  in  value,  compared  with 
$4,800  in  1924;  the  increase  being-  due  maiidy  to  San  Diesro  County. 

The  following?  table  shows  the  distribution  of  rough,  uncut  gem  and 
ji'weler's  materials  during  1925: 

County  Value  Kind 

.San  Diego $9,413  Tourmaline,    spe.ssartite    garnet,    hya- 

cinth, pink  and  aquamarine  beryl, 
ciuartz,  blue  topaz. 

lUitte "I  fDiamond.s. 

I  "alave'-a.s 1- *  1,250  -I  Quartz  crystals. 

San  :\Iateo J  [Jasper. 

Total  value $10,663 

*Coml)ined  to  conceal  the  output  of  a  single  operator  in   each. 

Varieties   of    California's    Gem    Stones. 

Didinonxh  have  been  fountl  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California; 
i)ut  in  every  case,  they  have  been  obtained  in  stream  gravels  Avhile 
working  them  for  gold.  The  principal  districts  have  been :  Volcano  in 
Amador  County:  Placerville,  Smith's  Flat  and  others  in  El  Dorado 
County;  French  Cori-al,  Nevada  County;  Cherokee  Flat,  ^lorris  Ravine, 
and  Yankee  Hill,  Butte  County;  Gopher  Hill  and  upper  S])anish  Creek, 
l^lumas  County.  The  most  productive  district  of  recent  years  has 
heeii  Cherokee  in  Butte  County. 

California  foio-DuiJiiics  are  decidedly  distinctive  in  coloring  and  'fire' 
:is  compared  to  foreign  stones  of  this  classification.  The  colors  range 
from  deep  ruby  to  pink,  and  various  shades  of  green,  also  a  blue 
lourmaline  has  been  found. 

One  of  our  California  gem  .si ones,  hciifonifc,  has  not  been  found  else- 
where; and  in  but  a  single  locality  here:  The  Dallas  ^line  in  San  Benito 
County. 

Kunziif,  a  gem  variety  of  spodumene,  was  first  found  in  the  I'ala 
district  in  San  Diego  County.  It  has  thus  far  been  found  in  only  one 
locality  (Madagascar)  outside  of  California.  Jt  is  of  a  lilac  color,  and 
is  described  in  detail  in  Bulletin  37  of  the  State  Mining  liureau. 

Bcri/ls  of  excellent  fire  and  delicate  colors  are  also  obtained  in  the 
Pala  district',  of  which  the  CK/naiiKirine  (blue)  and  iiiorf/diillr  ipink) 
\arieties  deserve  special  mention.  .Morganite,  like  kun/.ite,  lias  thus 
far  been  found  elsewhere  onh^  in  ^Madagascar. 

Calif ornile,  or  'California  jade,'  is  a  gem  variety  of  lusuriaitifr,  and 
is  green  or  white  in  color.     It  is  found  in  Butte,  Fresno,  and  Siskiyou 

counties. 

Stones  of  i)recious  blue  topaz  of  line  (juality  are  l)eing  cut  from 
cry.stals  mined  in  northern  San  Diego  County.  They  are  associated 
witii  beryl  and  blue  tourmaline. 

Some  rhndondite  has  been  mined  in  Siskiyou  County,  and  used  for 
decorative  purposes,  its  value  being  included  in  the  marble  figures. 


102 


MINKKAIi    IXDUSTHY     OF    CAI.ll-ORXIA. 


('Iif ysopni.se  Jias  been  protlucecl  in  Tnlare  Coniity. 

Turquoise  has  been  found  in  the  (k'sert  section  of  San  IJeniardino 
County,  but  none  pi-odueed  coininereially  in  recent  years. 

SdppJiirr.s  liave  been  reported  recently  found  in  San  Bernardino  and 
Kiverside  counties,  but  not  as  yet  coidirnied.  A  few  have  been  found 
in  stream  gravels  with  dianioiids  in   liutte  County. 

Rubies  have  been  identitied  by  tlic  laboratory  of  the  Slate  .Mining 
Bureau,  oecuring  in  limestone  from  the  Baldy  JNIountains,  San  Bernar- 
dino County.  Thus  far  no  stones  of  commercial  size  Jiave  l)een 
taken  out. 


Total    Production    of   Gem    Materials   in    California. 

The  value  of  the  gem  output  in  California  annually  since  the  begin- 
ning of  commercial  production  is  as  follows : 


Year 

Value 

Year 

Value 

1900 

$20,500 

40,000 

162,100 

110,500 

136,000 

148,500 

497,090 

232,642 

208,950 

193,700 

237,475 

51,824 

23,0.50 

13,740 

1914   .            .                           

?3,970 

1901 

1915 

3,565 

1902 

1916 

4,752 

1903 . 

1917                

3,049 

1904 

1918 

650 

1905 

1919 

5,425 

1906 

1920                                         .      

36,056 

1907 

1921 

1922 

1923                                                 

10,954 

1908 

1,312 

1909_.    .    . 

13.220 

1910 

1924 

4,800 

1911 

1025 

10.663 

1912 

j           Total  value 

1913 ..A 

.?2,174,4S7 

GRAPHITE. 


BihUographi/:  State  IMineralogist  Reports  XIIT,  XIY,  XV 
Bulletins  (h,  91.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.,  1914,  Ft.  11. 


XVII. 


(ii'apliite  has  been  produced  from  time  to  time  in  the  state,  coming 
]>rincipally  from  Sonoma  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  It  is  difficult  foi- 
these  deposits,  which  must  be  concentrated,  to  compete  Avitli  foreign 
supplies,  which  go  on  the  market  almost  directly  as  they  come  from  the 
deposit.  Graphite  ores  are  concentrated  witli  considerable  difficulty. 
and  the  electric  process  of  manufacturing  artificial  graphite  from  coal 
has  been  perfected  to  such  a  degree  that  only  deposits  of  natural 
graphite  of  a  .superior  quality  can  be  exploited  with  any  certainty  of 
.success. 

According  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  operators  in  this  country 
who  are  working  disseminated  flake  deposits  must  depend  on  their  No.  1 
and  2  flake  for  their  profit.  Graphite  dust  is  merely  a  by-product  and 
is  sala})le  only  at  a  low  price. 

The  principal  value  of  grapliite  is  on  account  of  its  infusibiilty  and 
resistance  to  the  action  of  molten  metals.  It  is  also  largely  u.sed  in  tlie 
manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  of  'lead'  pencils,  as  a  lubricant, 
as  stove  polish,  paints,  and  in  many  other  ways.  Amorphous  graphite, 
commonly  carrying  many  impurities,  l)rings  a  much  lower  price.  For 
some  purposes,  such  as  foundry  facings,  etc.,  the  low-grade  material  is 
satisfactory.    Among  tiie  interesting  u.ses  for  graphite  is  the  prevention 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  103 

of  formation  of  scale  in  boilers.  The  action  is  a  mechanical  one.  Being 
soft  and  slippery,  the  graphite  prevents  the  particles  of  scale  from 
adliering  to  one  another  or  to  the  boiler  and  they  are  thus  easily 
removed. 

Tlie  price  increases  with  the  grade  of  material,  the  best  quality 
crystalline  variety  being  ({uoted  at  present  (f.o.b.  New  York)  at  9^^-9]^' 
per  pound  (Ceylon  lumps). 

Tlie  coarser  flakes  are  necessary  for  crucibles,  as  they  help  to  bind 
the  clay  together  in  addition  to  their  refractory  service.  Imports  in 
192")  from  Ceylon,  Canada,  Madagascar,  Mexico  and  Korea,  totaled 
17,780  short  tons  valued  at  $828,082  compared  with  16,380  tons  valued 
at  $399,511  in  1924. 

Occurrence  .of  graphite  has  been  reporied  at  various  times  from 
Calaveras,  Fresno,  Imperial,  Inyo,  Los  Angeles,  .Mendocino,  San  Ber- 
nardino, 8an  Diego,  Siskiyou,  Sonoma  and  Tuolumne  counties. 

During  1925  there  was  a  small  commercial  output  of  graphite  from 
Inyo  County.  For  several  years  a  single  plant  in  Los  Angeles  County 
was  concentrating  graphite  from  a  disseminated  ore,  tlie  jiroduct  being 
used  for  paint  and  for  foundry  facing. 

Graphite    Production   of  California,   by   Years. 

According  to  the  records  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  the  graphite 
production  of  California,  by  years,  has  been  as  follows: 

Tear  Pounds      I       Value 

1901  -    128,000  $4,480 

1902  84,000  1,680 

1903   

1913   - 2,500  2.5 

1914   

1915 

1916   29,190  2,.^3o 

1917   

1918   J.         *77o,ooo  37,225 

1920  lll"l[ll"lll[llll^^^lllllll^lll^"llll^lll^ 

1921    

1922   

1923  

l!i:>o   


*624,0f10  26,160 


Totals I      1,637,690  $71,905 

•Annual  details  concealed  under  Tlnapportioned,'  on  account  of  a  single  producer. 

GYPSUM. 

r>ihU<)ttr(tj)hii:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XV,  XVI 1. 
XVI 11,  XXII.  Bulletins  3S,  67,  91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull. 
223,  413.  430,  697. 

During  1925,  one  operator  in  Imperial  County  and  three  in  Riverside 
produced  a  total  of  107,613  tons  of  gyjisum,  valued  at  $172,444.  com- 
pared with  25,569  tons  and  $53,210  in  1924  and  86,410  tons  worth 
$188,336  in  1923.  The  material  wa.s  utilized  mainly  in  cement  manu- 
facture as  a  retardant,  for  hard -wall  plaster  (including  wall  board), 
and  for  fertilizer.  The  increase  over  the  1924  figures  is  due  mainly  to 
Hie  larger  scale  of  operations  of  the  Pacific  Portland  Cement  Com- 
pan.x's  gyp.sum  plant  in  western  Imperial  County. 


104 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Gypsum    depusil    t>i    i'acific    Portland    Cfint-nl    (Jompauj-    in    ilie    Fisii    Alouniain 
Imperial  County.     Photo  by  W.  B.  Tucker. 


UiO-ton    pla.ster    mill    of    Pacific    Portland    Cement    Company    at    I'laster    City, 
Imperial  County.     Photo  by  W.  B.  Tucker, 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PKODUCTION. 


lOo 


Uses. 

Th(!  most  important  use  Of  gypsum  from  the  quantity  standpoint  is 
in  the  ealeined  form  whore  it  is  utilized  in  tlie  manufaeture  of  various 
hard-wall  plasters  and  plaster  hoard.  As  plaster  of  paris,  it  plays  a 
\ri-y  important  part  in  surgical  work.  Approximately  2%,  by  weight, 
i;iw  gypsum  is  added  in  the  manufacture  of  Portland  cement  .just 
Icfore  the  tinal  grinding.  In  this  api)lieation,  the  gypsum  acts  as  a 
retarder  to  the  set  of  the  cement.  The  use  of  gypsum  tile  for  non- 
bearing  fireproof  partitions,  stairway  and  elevator  enclosures,  and  the 
protection  of  steel  columns,  girders  and  beams,  has  increased  greatly. 

Land  plaster  may  be  applied  to  the  soil  by  drilling,  or  scattered  in 
the  hill,  or  it  may  be  sowed  broadcast,  in  (|uantities  ranging  from  200 
to  5(10  pounds  to  the  acre. 

Total    Production    of    Gypsum    in    California. 

Production  of  gypsum  annually  in  Califo.uia  since  such  records  have 
been  compiled  by  this  Bureau  is  as  follows: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

2,700 
2,500 
3,000 
3,000 
2,000 
2,000 
1,620 
2,446 
5,158 
1,310 
2,200 
3,100 
3,663 
2,522 
3,875 
10,200 
6,914 
8,3.50 
12,8.59 
21.000 

827,000 
25,000 
30,000 
30,000 
20,000 
20,000 
14,280 
24,584 
51,014 
12,580 
19,250 
23,600 
14,950 
10,088 
38,750 
53,500 
46,441 
56,592 
.54,. 500 
69,000 

1907 - 

8,900 
34,600 
30,700 
45,294 
31,457 
37,529 
47,100 
29,734 
20,200 
33,384 
30,825 
19,095 
19,813 
20,507 
37,412 
47,084 
86,410 
25,.569 
107,613 

$57,700 

1888 

1908          

155,400 

1889 

1909. _   --  -  - - 

138,176 

1890 

1910 

129,152 

1891 

1911.  ... -   --- 

101,475 

1892 

1912     . 

117,3?« 

1893 

1913 

135,0.50 

1894 

1914 

78,375 

1895 

1915           ...  . 

48.953 

1896             .  - 

1916-.  ..   

59,533 

1897 

1917 

56,840 

1898 

1918 

37,176 

1899 

1919 .   ... 

50,579 

1900 

1920 

92,535 

1901 

1921 .. 

78,875 

1902 

1922...  

188,336 

1903 

1923...  .   ..  

289,136 

1904 

1924 

.53,210 

1905 

1925          ...  - 

172,441 

Totals      

814,234 

$2,fiSl  ,462 

INFUSORIAL    and    DIATOMACEOUS    EARTH. 

Hihiioijrapliij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  II,  XII-XVI  (inc.), 
XV,  XVII-XXII  (inc.).  Bulletins  38,  67,  91.  Am.  Inst.  Min. 
Eng.,  Bull.  104,  August,  1915,  pp.  1539-1550.  U.  S.  Bur.  of 
Klines,  Kep.  of  Investigations:  Serial  No.  2431,  Jan.,  1923.  I^ng. 
&  Mm.  Jour.-Preas,  Vol.  115,  pp.  1152-1154,  June  30,  1923. 

Infusorial  and  diatomaceous  earth.s — .sometimes  called  tripolite — are 
\<'ry  light  and  extremely  porous,  chalk-like  materials  composed  of  pure 
silica  (chalk,  being  calcareous)  which  have  been  laid  down  under  water 
.iiid  consist  of  the  remains  of  microscopical  infusoria  and  diatoms. 
'I'lie  former  are  animal  i-emains,  and  the  latter  are  from  plants.  The 
principal  commercial  use  of  this  material  is  as  an  absor])ent.  It  is  also 
I'liiployed  in  the  manufactui-e  of  scouring  soap  and  i)olishing  powders; 
for  filtration  purposes;  in  making  some  classes  of  refractory  brick; 
.ind  as  an  insulating  medium  both  in  heating  and  refrigeration.  It 
In    a    first-class   noncondiicti)r    of    heat,    where    high    temperatures    are 


106 


:\irxi:RAL  ixdustuy  of  califorxia. 


fiiil)]oy("(l,  such  as  aroiiiicl  steel  and  j^as  i)lants  and  power  hoases.  In 
such  cases,  it  is  built  in  as  an  insulating?  layer  in  furnace  walls.  In 
Germany,  under  the  name  'kieseluuhr,'  it  was  used  as  an  al)sorbent  for 
nitro^ilyeerine  in  ihe  early  numufaeture  of  dynamite. 

_  As  a  nonconductor  of  heat  it  has  been  used  alone  or  with  other  mate- 
rials as  a  covering  for  boilers,  steam  pipes  and  safes,  and  in  fireproof 
eeuients.  It  is  used  largely  l)y  paint  maiuifacturers  as  a  wood  filler. 
Boiled  with  shellac  it  is  made  into  records  for  talking  machines.  It  has 
been  used  for  absorbing  liquid  manures  so  that  they  could  be  utilized 
as  fei'tilizers,  and  as  a  source  of  silica  in  making  water-glass  as  well  as 
in  the  manufacture  of  cement,  tile  glazing,  artificial  stone,  ultramarine 
and  other  pigments  of  aniline  and  alizarine  colors,  paper  filling,  sealing 
wax,  fireworks,  hard-rubber  objects,  matches,  and  papier  mache,  and 
for  solidifying  bromide.  For  making  insulating  brick  the  material  is 
sawed  into  blocks,  and  for  all  other  purposes  it  is  ground  and  screened. 
The  most  important  deposits  in  California  thus  far  known  are  located 
in  :Monterey,  Orange.  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Santa  Barbara  counties. 
The  Santa  Barbara  material  is  diatomaceous  and  is  of  a  superior 
quality,  particularly  for  filtration  u.ses  which  bring  the  higher  prices. 
Infusorial  or  diatomaceous  earths  are  also  found  in  Fi-esno,  Kern, 
Los  Angeles,  Plumas,  San  Benito,  San  Bernardino.  San  Joaquin^ 
Shasta,  Sonoma,  and  Tehama  counties. 

As  over  90%  of  the  output  in  California  is  from  a  single  operator, 
we  have  concealed  the  exact  figures  under  the  'Unapportioned'  item  in 
the  state  and  county  totals.  There  were  nine  operators  in  1925  in 
Monterey.  Santa  Barbara,  and  Shasta  counties,  the  shipments  showing 
an  increase  in  tonnage,  but  a  decrease  in  total  value  compared  with 
1924. 

The  material  shipped  was  utilized  for  insulation,  filtration,  paint 
pigment,  and  for  clarification  of  gasoline  and  kerosene. 

Total    Production    of    Diatomaceous    Earth    in    California. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  these  materials  in  California 
occurred  in  18S9 ;  total  amount  and  value  of  output,  to  date,  are  as 
follows : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1889  .. 

1890  -. 

1891  .. 

1892  .. 

1893  .. 

1894  .. 

1895  •_. 

1896  .. 

1897  .. 

1898  -. 

1899  _. 

1900  -. 

1901  .. 

1902  .. 

1903  -. 

1904  .. 

1905  .. 

1906  - 

1907  .. 


39 


$1,835 


50 
51 


2,000 
2,040 


200 


Year 


Tons 


422  1 

2,532 

2,703 

16.015 

6,950 

112,282 

3,000 

15.000 

2.430 

14.400 

2.531 

90  OA'. 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920  , 

1921 

1922 

19:>3    . 

1924    . 

192.J    . 


2,950 

500 

1.843 

2,194 

4.129 

8,&45 

12.840 

12.400 

15,322 

24.301 

35.963 

40.200 

60.764 

*90,739 
*193,06-: 


Totals 


5.729,73. 


Value 

$32,012 

3.500 

17.617 

19.670 

17,074 

35,96^5 

80.350 

62.000 

80.649 

127.510 

189.459 

217.800 

1.056.260 

1.016.675 

524,03; 


$8.881.0-- 


♦Annual   details   concealed   under   'Unapportioned.' 


STATISTICS   OF    AXNTAL    PRODUCTION'. 


107 


LIMESTONE. 

BihliograpJnj:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVil-XXII  (inc.).  Bulletins  38,  91.  Oregon  Agr.  College, 
Exten.sion  Bulletin  305.  Enii'.  and  ^lin.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  120, 
pp.  249-253. 

'  [lulustriar  limestone  Mas  produced  in  eleven  counties  during  1925, 
to  the  amount  of  319,977  tons,  valued  at  $19-4.525,  being  an  increase  in 
(luantity  but  a  drop  in  value  compared  to  the  ]!)24  output  of  219,476 
tons,  worth  Jf;582,660. 

The  amount  here  given  does  not  include  the  limestone  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  cement  nor  for  macadam  and  concrete,  nor  of  lime  for 
building  purposes:  but  accounts  for  that  utilized  as  a  smelter  and 
foundry  tlux.  for  gla.ss  and  sugar  making,  and  other  special  chemical 
and  manufacturing  proces.ses.  It  also  includes  that  utilized  for  fer- 
tilizers (agricultural  'lime'),  'roofing  gravel,'  paint  and  concrete  filler, 
\^  biting  for  paint,  putty,  kalsomine,  terrazzo,  paving  dust,  chicken  grit, 
carbon  dioxide  gas,  'paving  compound,'  facing  dust  for  concrete  pipe, 
also  foi-  rubber  and  magnesite  mix.  That  indicated  in  the  table  below 
as  coming  from  Santa  Clara  and  Los  Angeles  counties  is  calcareous 
mail  sold  for  agricultural  purposes.  Of  the  total  product  in  1925, 
approximately  12,000  tons,  valued  at  i|?46.250.  Avas  used  for  agricultural 
jmi-poses. 

Distribution  of  the  1925  output  was  as  follows : 

Count, I  Tons  Value 

i:i  Dorado 228,293  ^297.127 

S;ni  Bfriiardino 13,239  2(.569 

Smta   Cruz 16,551  F',„ 

mn«ta    24,395  28,480 

Tulare 13,300  43,900 

("i Ultra  Costa.  Invo.  Los  Angeles.  Santa  Clara.  Siskiyou, 

Tuolumne*     ."_ 24,199  64.347 

Totals 319.977  .$49  4,525 

*Coniluned  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Limestone    Production    of    California,    by    Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  amounts  and  value  of  'industrial' 
limestone  produced  in  California  by  years  since  1894  when  compilation 
of  such  records  was  begun  by  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau.  These  ton- 
nages consist  principally  of  limestone  utilized  for  flux,  glass  and  sugar 
making,  agricultural,  chemical,  and  other  special  industrial  purposes. 
That  utilized  in  cement  manufacture  is  not  included. 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1894..  . 

15.420 

71.355 

68.184 

36.796 

27.686 

30.769 

32.791 

76.937 

71.422 

125,919 

40,207 

192,749 

80,262 

230.985 

273.890 

337.676 

684.635 

$19,275 

71,690 

71,112 

38,556 

24,548 

29,185 

31,532 

99,445 

90.524 

163.988 

87.207 

323,325 

162,827 

406,041 

297.264 

419.921 

581,208 

1911   ..- 

516,398 

613,375 

301,918 

572,272 

146,324 

187,521 

237,279 

208,566 

88,291 

90,120 

75.921 

84,382 

143.266 

219.476 

319.977 

$4.52,790 

1895 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

570,248 

1896 

274,455 

1897 

517,713 

1898... 

1.56,288 

1899..  . 

1916 

217,733 

1900 

1917 

356.396 

1901 

1918 - 

456,258 

1902..  .. 

1919  -.- 

248,145 

1903 

1920--- 

298.197 

1904 

1921 

305.912 

1905..  .. 

1922       

282.181 

1906 

1923 

348.464 

1907 

1924 

582.660 

1908.. 

1925     

494.525 

1909 

Totab 

1910 -. 

6.202,769 

$8,479,613 

.108 


MINERAL    IXnrSTRY    OF    CALIFOKXIA. 


LITHIA. 


Bibliogtap/n/:    State    :\Iineralogi.st    Kcpoi-ts    II,    IV,    XIV,    XXI. 

l^iillctins  8S,  67,  01. 

Lithia  mica,  ]e])i(lolit("  (a  silicate  of  litliiiitii  et  al.)  utilized  in  the 
mamifacture  of  artificial  mineral  water,  fireworks,  tila.ss,  etc.,  has  been 
mined  in  San  Dieiio  County  since  1899.  except  between  1905  and  1915, 
thougli  there  was  none  shipped  in  1925.  Some  amblygonite,  a  lithium 
phosphate,  is  occasionally  also  obtained  from  pockets  associated  with 
the  oem  tourmalines. 

Lithia  mica  total  production  in  the  state  has  been  as  follows: 


Year 


Tons 


Valne 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1899 
1900 
1901 
190-2 
1903 
1904 
19ft5 
1906 
1915 
1916 


124 
440 
1,100 
822 
700 
641 
25 


$4,600 
11,000 
27.500 
31,880 
27,300 
25,000 
276 


1,365 
1.065 


1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924. 

1925  . 


4,111 

800 

10,046 

*1,365 


$8.8(10 

73,998 

14,400 

153,502 

20,781 


109 


2.269 


Totals. 


21,325  I    $403,736 


*Annual  details  concealed  under  'Dnapportioned.* 


MICA. 

Bibliograpliij :  State  ^Mineraloaist  Eeports  II,  IV.    Bulletins  38,  67, 
91.     U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  740:  :\Iin.  Res.  of  U.  S.     Ens. 
Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  55-60,  Jan.  13,  1923. 

No   commercial   production   of  mica   has   recently  been  reported  in 
California.     Production  in  previous  years  has  been  as  follows : 

Year                                                                                                                 Tons  Value 

1902 .-,0  $2,500 

1903 .50  3,800 

1904 50  3,000 

Totals 150  $9,300 

Classificacion    and    Uses. 

Practically  all  marketable  mica  is  of  the   muscovite  or   phlogopit( 
varieties.    There  are  three  main  commercial  classes:  Sheet  mica,  iiiclud-, 
ing   punch;    splittings,    and   scrap.      Sheet    mica    is- used    chiefly    fori 
electrical  purposes  and  for  glazing;  splittings  are  made  into  built-upj 
mica ;  scrap  is  ground  to  a  powder.    ]Mica  to  be  classified  as  sheet  must 
yield  a  rectangle  of  at  least  l-ix2  in.,  must  split  evenly  and  freely^ 
be  free  from  cracks,  rulings,  or  plications,  and  reasonably  free  froi 
inclusions  of  foreign  matter,  though  stains  of  a  nonconducting  charactei 
are  permissible  for  some  uses.     Ability  to   withstand   heat  and  higl 
electrical  resistance  have  led  to  a  wide  application  of  sheet  mica  ii 
the   electrical   industries.      The   electrical   uses   of   sheet   mica   greatlyj 
exceed  all  others  in  quantity  and  value  of  tlu^  matei-ial  used. 

As  a  heat-resisting  transparent  medium,  sheet  mica  has  various  usesJ 
It  is  widely  employed  for  stove  windows,  though  this  use  has  declined! 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


109 


to  a  considerable  extent.  A  hard  and  rigid  mica  that  is  nearly  clear 
is  best  suited  I'or  stove  fronts.  llitrh-f>;rade  stove  mica  commands  a 
hii^her  pi'ice  than  electrical  mica,  because  i'or  the  most  part  lar^'er 
sizes  are  demanded.  Mica  is  also  used  in  furnace  and  bake-oven  siglit- 
iioles,  heat  screens,  lamp  chimneys,  canopies  and  shades,  particularly 
for  gas  mantles,  and  also  for  military  lanterns  and  in  lantern  slides. 

Its  ability  to  withstand  shocks  and  strains,  coiiibin<'d  with  its  trans- 
parency, has  led  to  wide  use  in  motor  goggles,  spectacles,  diver's 
helmets,  smoke  helmets,  compass  cards,  gage  fronts,  and  in  windows 
subject  to  shock,  as  in  the  conning  towers  of  warships.  On  account 
of  its  heat-resisting  (pialities,  ground  mica  is  used  in  railroad  cai-  axle 
packings,  in  i>ipe  and  lioiler  coverings,  in  fire-{)i-oof  paints,  and  in 
rubber  tires.  Giound  iiiica  is  used  as  a  component  in  roofing,  as  a 
tiller  in  rubber  and  othci-  products,  in  calico  printing,  and  as  a  tire 
jtowder.  It  is  used  also  in  tinsel  decorations,  and  as  'Santa  Claus  snow' 
for  Christmas  tree  and  window  decorations.  It  is  used  as  a  lubi-icant 
lor  wooden  bearings,  and  mixed  witii  oil  for  metal  bearings. 

MINERAL   PAINT. 

Bihiiographi/:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XIX   (inc.),  XXI, 
XXII.    Bulletins  38,  91. 

^Mineral  ]Kiint  materials  were  pi'oduced  in  California  in  1925  fi-om 
pi-operties  in  Stanislaus  County,  amounting  to  669  tons  valued  at 
.+6,969.  Tills  is  an  increase  over  the  532  tons  and  $5,234  of  1924,  and 
was  entirely  of  yellow  ochre.  Hematite  has  been  shipped  from  Placer 
County,  and  red  ochre  ivom  Sonoma  and  Ventura  counties  in  former 
\'ears. 


Mineral    Paint   Production   of   California,   by   Years. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  mineral  paint  materials  in  the  state 
was  in  the  year  1890.  The  output,  showing  annual  amount  and  value, 
since  that  time,  is  given  herewith : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1890 

40 

22 

25 

590 

610 

750 

395 

578 

653 

1,704 

529 

325 

589 

2,370 

270 

754 

250 

250 

335 

$480 

880 

750 

26,795 

14,140 

8,425 

5,540 

8,165 

9,698 

20,294 

3,993 

875 

1,533 

3,720 

1,985 

4,025 

1.720 

1.720 

2,250 

1909  . 

305 
200 
186 
300 
303 
132 
311 
643 
520 
728 
1,780 
779 
446 
1,620 
1,049 
532 
609 

?2.325 
2,040 
1,184 
1,800 
1,780 
847 

1891 

1910 

1892 

1911... 

1893 

1912 

1894 

1913 

1895 

1914 

1896 

1915 

1,756 

3,960 

2,700 

4,738 

17.055 

8,477 

4,748 

13,277 

11,773 

5,234 

6,969 

1897 

1916... 

1898. 

1917 

1899 

1918 

1900.. 

1919 

1901 

1920  - 

1902 

1921 

1903 

1922 

1904 

1923 

1   1905 

1924 

1906 .   .. 

1925 

Totals 

1   1907 

1908 

20,012 

$200„S.ll 

no  MIN'KRAL    INDUSTUV    OF    CALIFORXIA. 

MINERAL     WATER. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  \'l,  XU-XVill  (inc.)-, 
XXI.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Water  Supply  Paper  338.  Min.  Res.  1914, 
1916.  'Mineral  Springs  and  Health  Resorts  of  California,'  by 
Dr.  Winslow  Anderson,  1890.  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agr.,  Bur.  of 
Cheni.,  Bulletin  91. 

A  widespread  production  of  mineral  water  is  shown  annually  in 
California.  These  figures  refer  to  mineral  water  actually  bottled  for 
sale,  or  for  local  consumption.  Water  from  some  of  the  springs  having 
a  special  medicinal  value  brings  a  price  many  times  higher  than  tlie 
average  shown,  while  in  some  eases  the  watei-  is  used  merely  for  drink- 
ing purposes  and  sells  for  a  nominal  figure.  Health  and  pleasure 
resorts  are  located  at  many  of  the  springs.  The  waters  of  some  of  the 
hot  springs  are  not  suital)le  for  di'inking,  ])ut  are  very  efificaciou.s  for 
bathing. 

From  a  therapeutic  standpoint,  California  is  particulai-ly  rich  in 
mineral  springs.  The  counterparts  of  many  of  the  world-famed  spas 
of  Europe  and  the  eastern  United  States  can  be  found  here.  Radio- 
activity has  l)een  noted  in  at  least  two  localities  in  California :  At  The 
Geysers  in  Sonoma  County,  and  Arrowhead  Hot  Springs  in  San  Ber- 
nardino County.  It  doubtless  exists  at  others,  but  the  State  Mininu 
Bureau  has  not  as  yet  had  funds  available  to  conduct  the  necessary 
investigations  along  this  line. 

So  far  as  the  efficacy  of  radioactivity  in  mineral  water  is  concerne:!, 
it  has  been  found  by  investigations  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
and  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  that  it  is  not  retained  and 
transported  in  bottled  water.  Radioactivity  in  water  is  only  tempo- 
rary, and  dissipates.  To  obtain  whatever  therapeutic  effect  it  may 
possess,  radioactive  water  should  be  utilized  directly  at  the  spring. 

Commercial  production  of  mineral  water  in  California  for  1925 
amounted  to  a  total  of  12,115,072  gallons  valued  at  $1,230,455,  being  a 
new  high  record  both  in  quantity  and  value.  The  1925  output  was 
distri])uted  by  counties,  as  follows : 

County  Gallons  Value 

Butte          *'4^4  $2,742 

Take     "II 62,970  57,793 

Los  AngeTes"I-II ^-^H'tli  ^^6,038 

Xapa    -- bJ,S3b  44,2ol 

San  Di^io'III 81,374  21,137 

Sonoma iH,;tuo  b.bi'i 

Calaveras! Colu-^^a,  Contra  Costa.  Fresno.  Humboldt,  Marin. 

Riverside,  San  Benito,  San  Bernardino,  San  Luis  Obispo, 

Santa  Barbara,  Santa  Clara,  Siskiyou,  Solano* 8,071,165  761,915 

Totals 12,115,072  $1,230,455 

*Coml>ined  to  conceal  output  of  a  sin,^le  operator  in  each. 

The  production  above  tabulated  was  in  part  bottled  with  artificial 
carbonation,  in  part  natural  and  a  large  part  was  used  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  soft  drinks  with  flavors. 

Although  some  of  the  operators  complain  that  prohibition  has  all 
but  killed  ott'  the  mineral  water  business,  the  reports  of  actual  produc- 
tion of  mineral  water  l)ottled  and  sold  indicate  an  encouraging  groAVth 
and  a  material  increase  annually  ])()th  in  total  quantity  and  value,  as 
mav  be  noted  from  the  tabulation  below. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  HI 

Mineral   Water  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Mineral  water  was  bottled  for  sale,  at  the  Napa  Soda  Springs  Napa 
County,  as  early  as  1860,  and  at  other  springs  in  California,  notably 
Ihe  Geysers,  Sonoma  County,  also  at  early  dates;  but  there  are  no 
figures  available  earlier  than  the  year  1887.  Amounts  and  values 
annually,  since  that  year  are  shown  herewith:  ' 


Year 


Gallons 


1887 


1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 2,194,150 

1906 I      1,585.690 


618.162 

1,112,202 

808,625 

258,722 

334.553 

331,875 

383,179 

402,275 

701,397 

808,843 

1,508,192 

1,429,809 

1,338,537 

2,456,115 

1,555,328 

1,701,142 

2,056,340 

2,430,320 


Value 


$144,368 
252.990 
252,241 

89,786 
139,959 
162,019 

90,667 
1S4,481 
291,500 
337,434 
345,863 
213,817 
406,691 
268,607 
559,057 
612,477 
558.201 
496,946 
538,700 
478,186 


Year 


Gallons 


1907 2.924.269 

1908 I  2,789.715 

1909 1  2,449,834 

1910 2,335,259 

1911 2,637,669 

1912 2,497,794 

1913 1  2,350,792 

1914 2,443,572 

1915 I  2,274,267 

1916 2,273,817 

1917 1.942.020 

1918 1,808,791 

1919 2,233,842 

1920 2,391,791 

1921 3,446,278 

1922 ■  4,276.346 

1923 5,487,276 

1924 8.159.211 

1925 12,115.072 


Value 


Totals- 


$544,01  (! 
560,507 
465.488 
522,009 
590.654 
529,384 
599,748 
476,169 
467,738 
410,112 
340,566 
375,650 
340,117 
421,643 
367,476 
486,424 
616,919 


90,853,071 


$10,587,791 


PHOSPHATES. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Report  XXI. 


Bulletins  67,  91. 


No  commercial  production  of  phosphates  has  been  recorded  from 
California,  though  occasional  pockets  of  the  lithium  phosphate,  ambly- 
gonite,  Li  (AlF)  POi,  have  been  found  associated  with  the  gem  tour- 
maline deposits  in  San  Diogo  County.  Such  production  has  been 
classified  under  lithia. 

PUMICE    and    VOLCANIC    ASH. 

Hibliograplni :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVII, 
XVIII,  XXII.    Bulletin  88  (See  'Tufa'). 

The  production  of  pumice  and  volcanic  ash  for  the  year  192;') 
amounted  to -,5819  tons  valued  at  $82,937,  and  came  from  i)r()perties  in 
Imperial,  Inyo,  Kern,  and  Mono  counties.  This  is  an  increase  in 
tonnage  but  slightly  lower  value  compared  with  the  1924  shipments 
wiiich  were  4919  tons  worth  .1^88,404. 

The  material  from  Imperial  County  and  part  of  that  from  Mono  is 
of  the  vesicular,  block  variety  and  was  sold  for  abrasive  purposes;  the 
balance  of  the  Mono  material  and  that  from  Inyo  and  Kern  was  the 
volcanic  ash,  or  tuff  variety,  and  was  employed  in  making  soai)  and 
cleanser  compounds.  The  Kern  County  asli  is  going  into  the  prepara- 
tion of  one  of  the  popular  and  nationally  advertised  bi-ands  ol"  cleanser 
compounds. 


112 


MIXKK'AL    IXnrSTKV    OF    ("ATJKORNIA. 


Pumice  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Commercial  ])r()(lu(;ti()ii  of  pumice  in  ('rilitoi  iiin  wiis  first  rei)ortc(l  to 
the  State  Miniii*''  J>ureau  in  IDOf),  then  not  again  until  1912,  since  wliicli 
year  there  lias  l)een  a  small  annual  output,  as  indicated  In-  the  folhtw- 
ing  table : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

\'alue 

1  909 

50 

$500 

1918  .. 

2,114 
2.388 
1.537 

'loe 

CIS 
2,936 
4,919 
5,319 

$28.G6;i 

1910 

1919 

43.6-57 

1911 

1920 

25.890 

1912 

100 

3,590 

50 

380 

1,246 

525 

2,500 
4,500 
1,000 
6,400 
18,092 
5,295 

1921 

6.310 

1913 

1922 

4,248 

1914 

1923 

1924 

16.309 

1915 

33.404 

1916 

1925 

Totals --_. 

32,937 

20,173 

$229,711 

PYRITES. 

Bibliogrophy:   State   IMineralogist   Reports   XVIII,   XIX,   XXII. 
Bulletins  38,  91.    ]\Iin.  and  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  114,  pp.  825,  840. 

A  total  production  of  129,500  short  tons  of  pyrites,  valued  at 
$528,550,  was  reported  shipped  in  California  during  1925  from  prop- 
erties in  Alameda,  j\Iariposa,  and  Shasta  counties.  This  was  a  slight 
increase  both  in  tonnage  and  value  over  the  figures  of  124,214  tons  and 
$517,835  in  1924. 

The  material  was  mostly  used  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid 
for  explosives  and  fertilizers,  but  a  portion  was  utilized  directly  in  the 
preparation  of  agricultural  fertilizer  and  insecticide.  The  sulphur 
content  ranged  up  to  46.5%  s. 

This  does  not  include  the  large  quantities  of  pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and 
other  sulphides  which  are  otherwise  treated  for  their  valuable  metal 
contents.  Some  sulphuric  acid  is  annualh^  made  as  a  by-product  in 
the  course  of  roasting  certain  tonnages  of  ^Mother  Lode  auriferous 
concentrates  while  under  treatment  for  tlieir  precious  metal  values. 

Pyrites  Production   in  California,  by  Years. 

The  total  recorded  pyrites  i)roduction  in  California  to  date  is  as 
follows : 


Year 


1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 

nine 

1907 
1908 
1309 
1910 
1911 


6.000 

5.400 

3.642 

4,578 

17,525 

24,311 

15.043 

15,503 

46.689 

82.270 

107.081 

457.867 

42.621 

54,225 


Value 


$30, 

28, 

21 

18, 

60 

94 

62 

63 

145 

251 

610, 

1,389 

179, 

182, 


000 
620 
133 
429 
,306 
,000 
,992 
,958 
,895 
.774 
.335 
,802 
862 
954 


Year 


1912. 
1913- 
1914_ 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 
1920. 
1921. 
1922. 
1923. 
1924_ 


lOli 


Totals 2.519.084 


Tons 


69 

79 

79 

92 

120 

111 

128 

147 

146 

110 

151 

148 

124 
129, 


872 
000 
.267 
,462 
,525 
.325 
329 
024 
,001 
.025 
381 
.004 

214 
500 


Value 


$203, 
218 
230, 
293 
372, 
323 
425. 
540, 
530. 
473, 
570, 
555, 
517. 
528, 


470 

537 

058 

148 

969 

04 

012 

300 

581 

735 

425 

308 

835 
550 


$8,923,742 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  113 

SHALE    OIL. 

Bihlioqraphif:  State  Miiieralofrist  Report  XIX.  T^.  S.  Geol.  Surv., 
Bulletins  ';322,  729.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  210.  Eng.  and 
Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  118,  No.  8,  pp.  290-292,  Aug.  23,  1924. 
Chem.  &  Met.  Eng.,  Vol.  32,  No.  6,  Feb.,  1925.  :\Iin.  Congress 
Jour.,  Dee.,  1924. 

Oil  Shale  is  clefined  by  Gavin,^  as  follows: 

"Oil  shale  is  a  compact,  laminated  rock  of  sedimentary  origin,  yielding  over  33  per 
cent  of  ash  and  containing  organic  matter  that  yields  oil  when  distilled,  but  not 
aiipreciably  when  extracted  with  the  ordinary  soUents  for  petroleum. 

******* 

"Oil  shales  contain  a  substance,  or  .substances,  usually  classed  as  a  pyro-bitumen, 
that  by  destructive  distillation,  or  pyrolysis,  yields  oils  somewhat  similar  to  petroleum. 
These  substances  have  been  termed  'kerogen,'  from  two  Greek  words  meaning 
producer  of  wax.'' 

The  Scottish  oil  shales  are  also  known  as  'torbanite.' 

The  so-called  'oil  shales'  of  California  do  not  for  the  most  part 
'ouform  to  the  above  definition,  as  the  greater  part  of  the  oil  obtained 
:  om  them  occurs  as  such  and  can  be  extracted  by  suitable  solvents. 
I  lie  most  extensive  deposits  in  this  state  are  part  of  the  Monterey 
formation  of  Tertiary  age,  and  physically  and  chemically  are  different 
from  the  oil  shales  of  Scotland  and  from  other  oil  shales  in  the  United 
Spates.  The  mineral  matter  of  this  shale  is  diatomaceous;  the  beds 
tiiat  yield  oil  occur  in  massive  formation;  and  when  freshly  broken 
smell  strongly  of  petrolemn.  Most  geologists  consider  the  Monterey 
shales  to  have  been  the  origin  of  the  oil  in  some  of  the  oil  fields  of 
California. 

Although  the  extraction  of  shale  oil  has  been  a  matter  of  commercial 
practice  on  a  considerable  scale  for  many  years  in  Scotland,  France, 
and  Australia,  it  has  not  attained  any  great  commercial  importance 
as  yet  in  the  United  States.  Technical  knowledge  of  the  subject, 
however,  is  increasing.  With  the  gradual  depletion  of  the  under- 
ground reserves  of  liquid  oil,  it  is  merely  a  matter  of  time  until  the 
development  of  the  oil  shales  of  the  United  States  will  be  an  economic 
necessity.  The  selling  price  of  petroleum  will  be  the  determining 
factor.  The  recovery-  of  by-product  ammonium  sulphate  is  an  impor- 
tant feature  of  the  process. 

Two  plants  on  a  more  or  less  experimental  scale  have  been  in  opera- 
tion in  California  for  several  years  past,  with  commercial  produc- 
tion beginning  in  a  small  way  in  1922.  The  product,  in  part,  has  been 
sold  for  utilization  as  a  flotation  oil  in  metallurgical  work,  and  part 
has  been  consumed  as  fuel  at  the  plants.  Both  plants  report  output 
for  1925,  the  amount  and  value  being  concealed  under  the  'unappor- 
tioned'  item. 

Shale   Oil    Production    of   California,    by   Years. 
Yeai-  Barrels  Vahcc 

llll]* 4,333  $44,262 

IdIsI* ^'^^^  55,240 

Totals 13,021  $99,502 

♦Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned." 

'Gavin,  M.  J.,  Oil  shale,  an  historical,  technical,  and  economic  study:  IT.  S.  Bur. 
of  Mines,  Bull.  210,  p.  26,  1924. 

8 — 47S1S 


114  •  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    fALIFORXIA. 

SILICA     (Sand    and    Quartz). 

llihH()<ir(ti)lni :  Slate  j\Iiiiorfilo<i-ist  Ivepoi-fs   IX.  XI\',   XV.  XV'II. 
XVill,  XX,  XXI.     P.iillclins  :',S.  (i7,  91. 

We  c()inl)in('  IIk^sc  iiuilci'ials  IxM'ausc  of  tlic  ov('i-lapi)inj>'  i-oles  of  vein 
quartz  ^vliieli  is  mined  for  use  in  o-lass  making'  and  as  an  abrasive,  and 
that  of  silica  sand  which,  althouo'h  mainly  utilized  i]i  p-Jass  manu- 
facture, also  serves  as  an  abrasive.  l:>oth  varieties  ai'e  also  utilized  to 
some  extent  in  fire-brick  nuuiufacture. 

A  portion  of  the  tonnage  of  vein  quartz  in  California  in  l!)l(i  an(i 
1917  was  employed  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-silicon  by  the  electric 
furnace.  At  present,  some  is  utilized  as  a  foundry  flux,  and  for  steel- 
casting  molds.  A  portion  of  the  silica  sold  (botli  sand  and  quartz) 
is  also  used  in  glazes  for  porcelain,  pottery  and  tile,  and  in  the  body 
of  the  ware  to  diminisli  shrinkage ;  and  some  of  tlie  sand  for  the 
preparation  of  sodium  silicate  ('Avater  glass').  Manufacturers  of  paint 
use  fineh'  ground  silica,  which  forms  as  much  as  one-third  of  tlie  total 
pigment  in  some  paints.  For  certain  purposes  finely -ground  crystalline 
material  is  superior  in  paints  to  other  materials  because  of  the  angu- 
larity of  the  grains,  which  makes  them  adhere  more  firmly  to  the  article 
painted  and  after  wear  afford  a  good  surface  for  repainting.  The 
same  angularity  makes  artificially  comminuted  crystalline  quartz  supe- 
rior to  natural  sand  for  use  in  wood  fillers.  It  is  also  preferable  for 
soaps  and  polishing  powders.  Part  of  the  1925  output  was  used  for 
roofing  and  stucco-dash  granules. 

We  do  not  include  under  this  heading  such  forms  of  silica  as : 
quartzite,  sandstone,  flint,  tripoli,  diatomaceous  earth,  nor  the  gem 
forms  of  'rock  crystal,'  amethyst,  and  opal.  Each  of  these  has  various 
industrial  uses,  which  are  treated  under  their  own  designations. 

The  production  of  silica  in  California  in  1925  amounted  to  12,498 
tons  valued   at  $96,780,   from  thirteen   properties   in   seven   counties. 

Of  the  above  total  2,8)34  tons  was  of  sand,  and  10,164  tons  of  vein 
and  boulder  (piartz.  For  making  tlie  higher  grades  of  glass,  most  of 
the  sand  is  imported  from  Belgium.  There  are  various  deposits  of 
quartz  in  California  which  could  be  utilized  for  glass  making,  but 
to  date  they  have  not  been  so  used  as  yet  owing  to  the  cost  of  grinding 
and  the  difficulty  of  preventing  contamination  b}'  iron  while  grinding. 

Silica  sand  has  been  produced  in  the  following  counties  of  the  state : 
Alameda,  Amador,  El  Dorado,  Los  Angeles,  Mono,  Monterey,  Orange, 
Placer,  Riverside,  San  Diego,  San  Joaquin,  and  Tulare,  the  chief 
centers  being  Amador,  IMonterey,  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The 
industry  is  of  limited  importance,  so  far,  because  of  the  fact  that  much 
of  the  available  material  is  not  of  a  grade  which  will  produce  flrst- 
class  colorless  glass ;  for  such,  it  must  be  essentially  iron-free.  Even  a 
fractional  per  cent  of  iron  imparts  a  green  color  to  the  glass. 

Belgium  sand  is  also  displacing  local  material  in  the  manufacture  of 
sodium  silicate  ('water  glass'),  liaving  caused  tlie  closing  down  of 
operations  in  1923  of  the  sand  plant  of  the  Philadelpliia  Quartz  Com- 
pany in  Amador  County. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  115 

Total   Silica   Production   of  California. 

Total   silica   production    in    California   since   the    inception   of   the 
industry,  in  1899,  is  shown  below,  being  mainly  sand : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1899 3,000  $3,500 

1900 2.200  2.200 

1901 5,000  16.250 

1902 4,500  i   12,225 

1903 I  7.725  7.525 

1904 10,004  12,276 

1905 9,257  8,121 

1906 9,750  13,375 

1907 11,065  8,178 

1908 9,255  22,045 

1909 12,259  25,517 

1910 19,224  18,265 

191! 8,620  8,672 

1912 13,075  15,404 


Year  Tons  Value 

1913 18,618  $21,899 

1914 28,538  22,688 

1915 28,904  34,322 

1916 20,880  48.908 

1917 19,376  41,166 

1918 23,257  88,930 

1919 18,659  101,600 

1920 25,324  96,793 

1921 10,569  49,179 

1922  .: 9,874  31,016 

1923 7,964  30,420 

1924 6,808  35,00fi 

irt2j I  12,498   I          96,780 

Totals 356.203   '      $87?i.2G0 


SILLIMANITE— ANDALUSITE— CYANITE    GROUP. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Report  XX.  Bulletins  67,  91. 
Dana's  Mineralogv.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Prof.  Paper  110.  En». 
&  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  120,  pp.  91-94,  1925.  Amer.  Mineral- 
ogist, June,  1924. 

Sillimanite  and  andalusite  are  botli  aluniinuiu  silicates  (AL.SiO^), 
liaving  the  same  composition  and  formula,  but  with  .slightly  different 
physical  characteristics.  Though  both  crystallize  in  the  orthorhombic 
system,  their  crystal  habits  are  different :  Andalusite  being  usually  in 
coarse  prismatic  forms,  the  prisms  nearly  scpiare  in  shape;  also  occurs 
massive,  imperfecth-  columnar,  and  sometimes  radiated  and  granular. 
Sillimanite  commonly  occurs  in  long,  slender  crystals,  not  distinctly 
terminated ;  prismatic  faces  striated  and  rounded ;  often  in  close 
parallel  groups,  pas.sing  into  fibrous  and  columnar  massive  forms, 
sometimes  radiating.  Colors  are  similar.  Hardness,  andalusite  7.5, 
sillimanite  6-7.    Andalusite  is  slightly  lighter  in  specific  gravity. 

A  massive  deposit  of  andalusite,  found  in  Dry  Creek  Canyon  in  the 
White  Mountains  of  the  Inyo  Range,  in  Mono  County,  is  being  mined 
by  the  Champion  Porcelain  Company  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  Tlie 
material  is  shipped  East  and  utilized  in  tlie  manufacture  of  porcelain 
for  automobile  spark  plugs  and  for  other  high-tension  electric  insu- 
lators. 

Cyanite  is  also  an  aluminum  silicate  (ALSiO.,),  of  the  same  chemical 
composition  as  andalusite  and  sillimanite,  but  crystallizing  in  the 
triclinic  system.  Occurs  usually  in  long-bladed  crystals,  rarely  termi- 
nated; hardness  5-7.25;  gravity  8.56-;j.67  (being  heavier  tiuin  the 
other  two)  ;  coloi-,  blue.  A  deposit  of  cyanite,  apparently  in  (luantity, 
is  noAV  being  developed  in  Imperial  County,  near  Ogilby.  i\nd  small 
shipments  have  been  made  for  experimental  purposes. 

Dumortierite,  though  differing  somewhat  in  composition  from  the 
above,  ])eing  a  basic  aluminum  silicate  (4  AloOg.S  SiO,),  has  proved 
similar  in  behavior  in  ceramic  work  so  that  it  is  now  being  mixed  witli 
andalusite    for   electrical    porcelains.      A   deposit   of   this   mineral    in 


116  MINEKAfj    INDTTSTIJY    OF    ("AMFORNIA. 

Nevada    is   ])(*in<>'   mined   for   that    purpose.      Oeenrrences   of   massive 
diimortierite  are  known  in  Imperial  C-onnty  in  tliis  state  and  tliere  may 

yot  !)('  some  commercial  possibilities  foi-  liicm. 

SOAPSTONE    and    TALC. 

BihJiof/rapJiy:  State  ]\Iincralof?ist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVIT- 
XX IT.  liulletins  38,  67,  91.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  213. 
Kep.  of  Investigations,  Serial  No.  2253,  May,  1921. 

The  total  output  of  talc  and  soapstone  iii  California  in  1925  amounted 
to  15,465  tons  valued  at  $239,084,  compared  with  16,179  tons  valued  at 
$242,770  in  1924.  Nearly  eio-jity  per  cent  of  the  product  was  lii<i:h- 
p:rade  tale  from  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  counties,  which  material 
was  utilized  mainly  in  toilet  powders,  paint,  paper,  and  rubber  manu- 
facture, and  some  in  ceramics.  The  'soapstone'  p:rades  were  used 
mainly  for  roofing  granules  and  as  a  filler  in  roofing  paper,  and  part 
also  in  magnesite  cement. 

It  is  reported  tliat  California  1alc  is  steadily  replacing  imported 
talc  in  the  toilet  trade  on  the  basis  of  quality.  The  largest  production 
of  talc  in  the  United  States  comes  from  Vermont  and  New  York,  and  of 
masssive  sopastone  from  Virginia. 

Composition   and    Varieties. 

Talc  is  hydrous  magnesium  silicate  with  the  chemical  formula 
H2Mg3(SiO;.)4.  It  is  also  called  soapstone  and  steatite.  The  term 
'talc'  properly  includes  all  forms  of  the  pure  mineral,  whereas  'steatite' 
denotes  particularly  the  massive,  compact  variety,  and  'soapstone'  the 
impure,  massive  forms  containing  as  low  as  50%  of  talc.  When  pure, 
talc  is  soft,  having  a  hardness  of  1,  but  impurities  increase  the  hardness 
up  to  3  or  4.  The  color  varies  from  pure  white  and  silvery  white 
through  gray,  green,  apple  green,  to  dark  green,  also  yellow,  brown,  and 
reddish  when  impure.  It  is  conunonly  compact  or  massive,  or  in 
fine  granular  aggregates,  and  often  in  foliated  plates  or  in  fibrous 
aggregates. 

Uses. 

Although  the  uses  of  talc  and  soapstone  are  many  and  varied,  some 
of  them  are  not  in  general  well  knoAvn  nor  fully  developed;  and 
although  few  of  their  uses  can  justly  be  considered  essential  in  the 
sense  that  no  substitutes  can  be  used,  there  are  several  which  are  of 
great  importance.  The  widest  use  of  talc  is  in  the  powdered  form, 
and  the  value  depends  upon  color  (whiteness),  uniformity,  fineness  of 
grain,  freedom  from  grit,  'slip,'  and  sometimes  freedom  from  lime. 
The  white  varieties,  free  from  grit  and  iron,  low  in  lime,  ground  to- 
200-mesh  and  finer,  are  largely  used  as  a  filler  for  paper,  rubber  and 
]>aint,  and  tlie  very  highest  grade  as  toilet  powder.  Ground  talc  is  also 
used  in  dressing  and  coating  chith,  in  makiiig  soap,  rope,  twine,  pipe- 
covering  compounds,  heavy  lubricants,  and  polishes.  Ground  talc  and 
soapstone  are  used  for  foundry  facings,  either  alone  or  mixed  with 
graphite  and  a  coai'ser  grade  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  asphalt- 
coated  roofing  felts  and  papers,  l)oth  as  a  filler  and  as  a  surfacing. 
Massive  close-grained  talc,  free  from  iron  and  grit,  is  cut  into  l)lanks 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


117 


and  baked,  fonning  the  material  used  for  gas  tips  and  electrical  insula- 
tion, commonly  known  as  'lava.'  Its  hardness,  its  resistance  to  heat, 
acids  and  alkalies,  and  its  great  dielectric  strength  make  it  very  useful 
for  electric  insulation,  and  no  satisfactory  substitute  for  it  has  been 
found. 

Massive  varieties  of  tale,  pyr()i>liyllite,  and  high  grades  of  soapstone 
are  cut  into  slate  pencils  and  steel-workers'  crayons.  'French  chalk' 
or  'tailor's  chalk'  is  a  soft,  massive  talc.  In  China,  Japan  and  India, 
massive  talc  (steatite)  is  carved  into  grotesque  images  and  other  forms, 
Hud  is  often  sold  as  imitation  ja-^le.  vSoapstone  is  cut  into  slabs 
of  1  to  2  inches  in  thickness  and  sold  as  griddles,  footwarmers,  and 
fireless-cooker  stones,  or  fabricated  into  laundry  sinks  and  tubs,  labora- 
tory-table tops,  hcods,  tanks  and  sinks,  electric  switchboards,  and  for 
other  uses  in  which  the  X)roperties  of  resistance  to  heat,  acids,  and 
alkalies,  and  electricity  are  essential. 

A  detailed  description  of  the  classification  and  uses  of  talc  and  soap- 
stone  was  given  in  the  statistical  report  for  1922  (Bulletin  93)  issued 
by  the  State  IMining  Bureau,  copies  of  wliich  are  still  available  for 
distribution. 

Imports. 

Foreign  importations  of  high-grade  whitp  talc  suitable  for  the  manu- 
facture of  toilet  powder  have  come  mainly  from  Canada,  Italy  and 
France.  Foreign  producers  have  the  benefit  of  cheap  labor,  and  a 
low  tariff  import  duty.  In  addition  to  these  disadvantages,  California 
operators  have  to  contend  wdth  transcontinental  freight  rates  to  the 
eastern  manufacturing  centers.  In  1925  importations  totaled  20,990 
short  tons  valued  at  $449,338.  compai-ed  with  18,199  tons  valued  at 
$356,629  in  1924,  according  to  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Cfnumei'ce. 

Talc    Production   of   California,   by   Years. 

Production  has  been  intermittent  in  the  state  since  1893,  as  shown  in 
the  following  table : 


Tear 


1893  . 

1894  . 

1895  . 

1896  . 

1897  . 

1898  . 

1899  . 

1900  . 

1901  . 

1902  . 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 


Tons 


400   $17,750 


25 


10 

14 

219 

228 

30O 


3 
33 


375 


119 

288 

10,124 

2,315 

3.000 


48 
280 


Year 


1910  . 

1911  . 

1912  . 

1913  . 

1914  . 

1915  . 

1916  . 

1917  . 

1918  . 

1919  . 

1920  . 

1921  . 

1922  , 
1923. 

I  1924. 
I  192'-,.. 


Totals  . 


Tons 


Value 


740 

$7,260 

1.750 

7.350 

1,350 

6,150 

1.000 

4.500 

1,663 

14,750 

1.703 

9.831 

5,267 

45.279 

11.760 

85.534 

8,764 

115,091 

11,327 

221.362 

8.752 

130,078 

13,378 

197.186 

17.439 

252,661 

16,179 

242.770 

15.465 

239,084 

117.769   $1,61.3,185 


118  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

STRONTIUM. 

Bibliography:  Bulletins  67,  91.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  540;  660-1. 

There  has  been  no  production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California 
since  1918,  thouj^li  in  tliat  year  both  celestite  (SrS04),  and  the  car- 
bonate, strontianite  (SrCJO;.)  were  shipped.  The  first  I'eeorded  com- 
mercial output  of  strontium  minerals  in  California  was  in  1916.  The 
occurrence  of  the  carbonate  is  particularly  interesting  and  valuable,  as 
it  appears  to  be  the  only  considerable  deposit  of  commercial  importance 
so  far  opened  up  in  the  United  States.  Shipments  reported  as  averag- 
ing 80%  SrCO;,  luive  been  made.  The  deposit  is  associated  witli  deposits 
of  barite,  near  Barstow,  San  Bernardino  ('ounty.  Tlie  carbonate  has 
also  been  found  in  massive  form  near  Shoshone,  Inyo  County.  In  addi- 
tion to  Imperial  County,  celestite  is  found  near  Calico  and  Ludlow, 
and  in  the  Avawatz  Mountains  in  San  Bernardino  County,  but  as  yet 
undeveloped. 

Production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California,  by  years,  has  been  as 
follows : 


Tear 

1        Tons 

Value 

1916   — 

_ 57 

$2,850 

1917   

3,050 

37,000 

1918   „ 

9flnn 

33,000 

1919 -                               J 

Totals 

6,007 

$72,850 

The  principal  use  for  strontium  in  the  United  States  is  in  the  form 
of  the  nitrate  in  the  manufacture  of  red  flares,  or  Costen  and  Bengal 
lights  and  fireworks.  Previous  to  1914,  the  nitrate  was  imported  from 
Germany,  England,  and  Sicily.  In  Germany  and  Russia,  strontium  in 
the  form  of  the  hydroxide  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar.  It 
is  stated  that  strontia  is  more  efficient  and  satisfactory  in  that  process 
than  lime,  as  it  gives  an  additional  recovery  of  6%  to  8%. 

Of  the  two  minerals,  strontianite  (carbonate)  and  celestite  (sul- 
phate), the  carbonate  is  the  more  desirable  as  it  is  easier  to  convert  to 
other  salts;  but  it  is  scarcer.  Celestite  is  found  with  limestone  and 
sandstone  and  is  sometimes  associated  with  gypsum.  Strontianite  is 
also  found  with  limestone,  but  associated  with  barite  and  caleite. 

SULPHUR. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XIII,  XIY.     Bulle- 
tins 38,  67,  91. 

In  1923-1924  there  was  a  small  production  of  sulphur,  from  a  single 
propertj^  in  Kern  County.  It  was  ground,  and  utilized  as  a  fertilizer 
and  in  dusting  for  mildew.  This  is  the  first  commercial  output  of 
native  sulphur  in  California  for  many  years  although  this  mineral  has 
been  found  to  some  extent  in  Colusa,  Imi^erial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Lake, 
Sonoma,  Tehama,  and  Ventura  counties. 

Sulphur  was  produced  at  the  famous  Sulphur  Bank  mine  in  Lake 
County,  during  the  years  1865-1868  (inc.),  totaling  941  tons,  valued  at 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  119 

-.")8,500;  followiug:  Avhic'h  the  property  became  more  valuable  for  its 
(|iiieksilver.  The  Elgin  qiiicksih-er  mine,  near  Wilbur  Springs,  Colusa 
(  Onnty,  is  a  similar  occurrence. 

The  principal  sources  in  the  United  States  are  the  stratified  deposits 
in  Louisiana  and  Texas,  extraction  being  ciecomi)lished  by  a  unique 
system  of  wells  Avitli  steam  pipes.  It  is  stated  that  tlie  three  large 
couipanies  operating  there  are  capal)le  of  producing  more  than  1,000,000 
tons  annually  in  excess  of  our  normal  consumption  in  the  United  States, 
wliieh  averages  about  600,000  tons.  The  mines  at  Freeport,  Texas,  are 
in  a  peculiarly  favorable  location  in  that  they  are  practically  at  tide- 
water. 

Formerly  considera])le  sulpliur  was  imported  from  Italy  and  from 
Japan;  but  the  situation  is  now  reversed,  so  that  in  1925,  a  total  of 
(i29,401  long  tons  valued  at  $11,000,235  was  exported  fi-om  the  United 
fe^tates,  principally  to  Europe  and  Canada. 


120 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  SIX. 


SALINES. 


Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  III,  XIV,  XV,  XVII- 
XXII  (inc.).  Bulletin  24.  Spun-  and  Wormser,  "Marketing  of 
Minerals."  "Non-Metallic  Minerals,"  by  R.  B.  Ladoo.  See 
also  under  each  substance. 

Under  this  heading  are  included  borax,  common  salt,  soda,  potash, 
and  other  alkaline  salts.  The  first  two  have  been  produced  in  a  number 
of  localities  in  California,  more  or  less  regularly  since  the  early  sixties. 
Except  for  a  single  year's  absence,  soda  has  had  a  continuous  produc- 
tion since  1894.  Potash,  juagnesium  chloride  and  sulphate,  and  calcium 
chloride  have  been  added  to  the  commercial  list  in  recent  years,  Avhile 
the  nitrates  are  still  prospective. 

Our  main  resources  of  salines  are  the  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions 
of  Imperial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Los  Angeles,  San  Bernardino,  and  San  Luis 
Obispo  counties,  and  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  total  value  of  this  group  shows  a  slight  increase  to  !|i4,386,736 
in  1925  over  the  1924  figure  of  $4,374,192,  as  detailed  in  the  following 
tabulation : 


Substance 

1924 

1925 

Increase-)- 

Decrease — 

Value 

Tons 

Value 

Tons 

Value 

52,070 

4,823 

33,107 

318,800 

32,536 

Sl,599,149 

46,124 

4,221 

36,355 

284,068 

48,625 

$1,526,938 

$72,211— 

*      4- 

145,883 
747,407 
1,159,137 
711,796 
^10,820 

132,5.53 

829,770 
949,826 
947,649 

13,330— 

Potash                             -           -  - 

82,363+ 

Salt              

209,311— 

Soda 

235,853-1- 

10,820— 

Total  value              . 

S4,374,192 

S4,386,736 

$12,544-1- 

*Under  'Unapportioned.' 

a  Includes  calcium  chloride,  aluminum  sulphate,  glauber  salt,  potash  alum. 


BORATES. 

Bihliocjraphy:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  III,  X,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVil-XXII  (inc.).    Bulletins  24,  67,  91. 

During  1925  there  was  produced  in  California  a  total  of  79,865  tons 
of  borate  materials  compared  with  93,273  tons  for  the  year  1924.  The 
materials  shipped  in  1925  included  crude  and  selected  colemanite  ore 
from  Inyo  and  Kern  counties  varying  from  19%  to  80%  anhydrous 
boric  acid  ('A.B.A.'),  also  crystallized  borax  prepared  by  evaporation 
of  brines  at  Searles  Lake  in  San  Bernardino  County. 

As  the  crude  ore  is  not  sold  as  such,  but  is  almost  entirely  calcined 
before  shipping  to  the  refinery  for  conversion  into  the  borax  of  com- 
merce, and  because  of  the  fact  that  the  material  varied  widely  in  boric 
acid  content,  we  have  recalculated  the  tonnage  to  a  basis  of  40%  A.B.A. 
This  is  approximately  the  average  A.B.A.  content  of  the  colemanite 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  121 

■material  after  ealciniusr,  and  also  of  the  crystallized  borax  obtained 
from  evaporation  of  the  lake  l)rines. 

Recalcidated  as  above,  the  1925  production  totals  46,124  tons  valued 
at  $1,526,938,  a  decrease  from  the  similar  figures  for  1924  which  were 
ryl.OlO  tons  and  $1,599,149. 

( 'olemanite  is  a  calcium  borate,  and  the  material  mined  is  shipped  to 
sraboard  chemical  plants  for  refining^.  Refined  'borax'  (sodium  tetra- 
b(»rate)  is  used  in  making  the  enameled  coating  for  cast-iron  and  steel- 

[  ware  employed  in  plum1)ing  fixtures,  cliemical  equipment,  and  kitchen 
utensils.  Tt  is  also  a  ccmstituent  of  l)or()silicate  glasses  Avhich  are  util- 
ized in  making  lamp  chimneys,  ])aking  dislies,  and  lal)oratory  glassware. 
Other  important  uses  of  borax  are  in  the  manufacture  of  laundry  and 
kitchen  soaps,  in  starch,  pai)er  sizing,  tanning,  welding,  and  in  the 
preparation  of  boric  acid,  which  is  t^u ployed  as  an  antiseptic  and  in 
])  reserving  meats. 

Two  new  uses  for  borax  have  been  recently  reported,  which  give 
promise  of  becoming  important  factors  in  the  industry.  The  first  is  in 
the  preserving  of  citrus  fruits  by  washing  them  in  a  solution  of  borax, 
wliich  closes  the  pores  of  the  skin.  The  application  of  this  process  is 
increasing  in  California  and  Florida.  The  second  is  as  a  preservative 
of  wood,  in  addition  to  which  borax,  being  non-inflammable,  renders 
it  fireproof. 

Surprising  as  it  may  seem,  the  strike  in  Great  Britain  in  the  early 
months  of  1926  had  its  reaction  in  places  as  remote  and  apparently 
so  dissociated  from  British  economic  problems  as  the  region  of  Death 
\^alley,  California.  Though  popularly  known  chiefly  as  a  cleansing  and 
])re.servative  commodity,  borax  has  wider  and  lieavier  commercial  uses 
in  the  pottery  and  metal  industries  where  it  is  employed  as  a  flux. 
The  su.speusion  of  these  industries  in  England,  therefore,  even  for  a 

I    brief  period,  affected  exports  from  California's  borate  mines. 

Total  Production  of  Borate  Materials  in  California. 

Borax  was  first  discovered  i2i  California  in  the  waters  of  Tuscan 
Springs  in  Tehama  County,  January  8,  1856.  Borax  Lake  in  Lake 
County  was  discovered  in  September  of  the  same  year  by  Dr.  John  A. 
Veach.  This  deposit  was  worked  in  1864-1868',  inclusive,  and  during 
that  time  produced  1,18,1,365  pounds  of  refined  borax.  The  bulk  of 
it  was  exported  by  sea.  to  New  York.  This  was  the  first  commercial 
output  of  this  salt  in  the  United  States,  and  California  is  still  today 
the  leading  x\merican  producer  of  borax,  having  been  for  many  years  the 
sole  producer. 

Production  from  the  dry  lake  'playa'  deposits  of  Inyo  and  San 
P>ernardino  counties  began  in  1873;  but  it  was  not  until  1887  that  the 
borax  industry  was  revolutionized  by  the  discovery  of  the  colemanite 
beds  at  Calico,  in  San  Bernardino  County.  These  have  since  been 
largely  worked  out.  and  the  output  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
'oiiiing  from  similar  beds  in  Inyo  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  In  1920 
San  Bernardino  County  again  entered  the  field  with  shipments  of 
>uch  ore  from  near  Daggett.  The  colemanite  deposits  of  Ventura 
<  'ounty  are  at  present  unworked,  owing  to  lack  of  transportation 
facilities.  Some  production  of  colemanite  is  being  made  from  deposits 
recently  opened  up  in  Clarke  County,  Nevada. 


122 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  total  production  of  borate  materials  in  California  is  shown  in 
the  following^  table : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 

1879  , 

1880  , 

1881  , 

1882  , 

1883  , 

1884  . 

1885  . 

1886  . 

1887  . 

1888  , 

1889  . 

1890  . 

1891  . 

1892  . 

1893  . 

1894  . 


12 
126 
201 
220 

32 


$9,478 

94,099 

132,538 

156,137 

22.384 


140 

89,6(iO 

515 

255.440 

915 

259,427 

1,168 

289,080 

1,437 

312,537 

993 

193,705 

373 

66,257 

364 

65,443 

609 

149,245 

690 

189,750 

732 

201,300 

900 

265.500 

1.019 

198,705 

942 

155,430 

1,285 

173,475 

1,015 

116,689 

1,405 

196,636 

965 

145,473 

3,201 

480,152 

4,267 

640,000 

5,525 

838,787 

3,955 

593,292 

5,770 

807,807 

Year 


Tons 


1895 

5,959 

1896 

6,754 

1897 

8,000 

1898 

8,300 

1899  .     

20,357 

1900 

25,837 

1901 

22,221 

1902 

1903 

"17,202 
34,430 

1904 

45,647 

1905  --   . 

46,334 

1906 

58,173 

1907 

53,413 

1908  .     --   . 

22,200 

1909 

16,628 

1910 

16,828 

1911  

50,945 

1912 

42,135 

1913 

58,051 

1914         .  _   . 

62,500 

1915 .- 

67,004 

1916 

103,523 

1917     -  -- 

109,944 

1918 - 

88,772 

1919 

66,791 

1920  -    -  - 

127,065 

1921 

50,136 

1922   

"39,087 

1923 

62,667 

1924 

52,070 

1925               _  . 

46,124 

Totals 

1  473,873 

VaJoer 

$595, 900 
675,400 
1,080,000 
1,153,000 
1,139,882 
1,013,251 
982,38<r 
2.234,984 
661,40(ji 
698,810 
1,019,15}? 
1,182,410 
1,200,913 
1,117,000 
1,163,960 
1,177,960 
1.456,672 
1,122,71^ 
1,491,530 
1,483,50(> 
1,663,52) 
2,409,375 
2,561,95i> 
l,867,90h 
1,717,192 
2,794,20e 
1,096.32ft 
1.068.025 
l.S9a798 
1,599.149 
1,526,9.38 


"Refined  borax.    "Recalculated  to  40%  'anhydrous  boric  acid'  equivalent  beginning  with  1922. 

CALCIUM    CHLORIDE. 

BMiograpliy:  U.  S.  Geol.  Siirv.,  Min.  Res.  1919,  Pt.  II.  Engin- 
eerings and  Contracting,  Roads  &  Streets  monthly  issue,  Feb. 
6,  1924.  'How  to  Maintain  Roads,'  manual  of  instruction  of 
Dow  Chemical  Company. 

Calcium  chloride  is  hygroscopic,  that  is,  it  has  an  affinity  for  water. 
This  property  is  taken  advantage  of  by  utilizing  this  salt  as  a  drying 
agent.  It  is  also  sprinkled  on  dirt  roads  and  playgrounds  to  keep 
down  dust  by  absorbing  moisture.  In  refrigerating  machinery  for  ice 
factories,  meat-packing  houses  and  cold-storage  warehouses,  a  calcium- 
chloride  solution  is  stated  to  have  some  advantages  over  salt  brine.  In 
tire  buckets  this  solution  has  an  advantage  over  pure  water,  in  that  it 
has  a  lower  freezing  point,  does  not  corrode  metal,  and  tends  to  keep 
the  buckets  full  due  to  its  absorbing  moisture  from  the  atmosphere. 
Powdered  calcium  chloride  is  used  in  drying  gases,  fruits  and  vege- 
tables. 

For  dust  prevention  on  roads,  it  is  stated  that  the  flake  form  of  the 
chloride  gives  better  results  tlian  the  granulated.  Immediately  after 
spreading,  the  flake  begins  to  absorb  moisture  from  the  air — "in  fact, 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  123 

absorbs  three  times  its  weight  in  water,  dissolves  itself  into  the  surface 
material  of  the  road,  remains  there,  holds  the  moisture  and  prevents 
dust."  It  is  recommended  that  the  first  application  in  the  spring 
sliould  be  made  as  soon  as  the  roads  are  partly  dried  and  the  spring 
rains  over,  in  order  to  prevent  the  accnnmlation  of  the  first  dust  during 
the  season.  From  1  to  2  pounds  of  flake  chloride  are  used  per  square 
yard  according  to  the  nature  of  the  road  surface.  Ordinarily  a  second 
application,  of  from  4  to  1  pound  per  square  yard,  should  follow  in 
from  four  to  six  weeks  depending  upon  conditions;  and  sometimes  a 
light,  third  application  may  be  necessary  during  a  long,  dry  summer. 
The  most  satisfactory  method  for  applying  large  quantities  of  flake 
calcium  chloride  is  to  use  an  agricultural  lime  or  fertilizer  spreader 
attached  by  a  slioi-t  tongue  to  the  rear  of  a  truck.  Excellent  results 
are  reported  witli  the  following  kinds  of  road  surfaces :  gravel,  water- 
bound  gravel,  water-bound  macadam,  sand-clay,  clay-sand,  cinders, 
mine  tailings.  It  can  not  be  used  to  advantage  on  roads  of  heavy 
clay,  oil-treated  surfaces,  heavy  rolling  sand,  or  tlie  ordinary  dirt  road 
which  is  composed  almost  entirely  of  fine  dead  material.  The  last 
named  should  first  have  a  resurfacing  or  application  of  gravel. 

A  very  important  and  growing  use  for  calcium  chloride  is  its 
application  to  curing  concrete  pavements  instead  of  the  slower  and 
more  expensive  earth  and  water-covering  method.  It  is  stated  that  one 
application  of  the  flake  chloride  will  absorl)  a  sutficieut  amount  of 
moisture  from  the  air  to  keep  tlie  pavements  wet  continuously  24  hours 
per  day  when  properly  applied.  As  soon  as  the  newly  laid  concrete 
has  taken  on  enough  set  to  permit  an  application  without  marring 
the  surface,  the  chloride  should  be  spread  on  at  the  rate  of  2  to  2^ 
pounds  per  square  yard,  depending  upon  the  dryness  of  the  weather. 
It  should  be  evenly  spread.  There  is  no  need  of  applying  an  earth 
covering  and  hence  no  subsequent  eartli  removal,  and  no  extra  water 
pumping,  thereby  eliminating  these  items  of  expense.  Not  only  that, 
but  experience  has  proved  that  the  time  of  set  for  the  concrete  is 
shortened  by  use  of  the  chloride,  so  that  pavements  so  treated  can 
be  opened  to  traffic  in  one-half  the  time  required  if  cured  by  ponding 
or  by  earth  and  water.  In  the  case  of  patching  broken  pavements, 
if  calcium  chloride  is  mixed  in  with  the  concrete  as  laid,  in  proper 
proportions,  and  a  further  api3lication  spread  on  the  finished  surface, 
the  patched  pavement  can  be  opened  to  traific  in  48  hours  without 
injury  to  the  concrete. 

Californian    Production. 

Commercial  production  of  calcium  chloride  in  California  was  first 
reported  to  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau  in  1921,  from  two  plants  in  San 
Bernardino  Count}-,  being  obtained  as  a  by-product  in  the  refining  of 
salt  from  deposits  in  certain  of  the  desert  dry  lakes.  In  1922-192-1, 
there  was  only  a  single  operator,  so  that  tlu'  annual  details  are  concealed 
under  the  'unapportioned'  item. 

Year                                                                                      Tons  Value 

1921  683  122,980 

1922)* 1,204  26,580 

1923  f 

1924  (  * 10,988  328,876 

1925)  

Totals 12,875  $378,436 

•Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 


12-4  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OV    CALIFORNIA. 

MAGNESIUM    SALTS. 

Bihliographji:  State  ^Mineralofyist  Reports  XX,  XXI.  Bulletin 
91.  'Dictionary  of  Applied  Clieniistry,'  by  Thorpe.  U.  S.  Geol. 
Snrv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 

The  production  of  magnesium  chloi-ide  and  sulphate  in  California- 
during-  1925  totaled  4221  tons  valued  at  $182,553,  a  slight  decrease- 
both  in  (piantity  and  value  from  the  1924  figures  of  4,828  tons  and 
$145,S8o.  Tl)is  -was  nearly  all  chloride,  sold  for  use  in  magnesite  stucco 
and  cement  mixtures  (Sorel  cement),  also  some  for  'road  lic^uor. '  It 
was  in  part  marketed  in  the  liquid  form  testing  o4°-36°  Baume,  and  in 
part  as  drj'  crystals,  and  was  prepared  from  residual  bitterns  at  salt 
plants  in  Alameda,  Los  Angeles,  San  Diego,  and  San  Mateo  counties. 
The  sulphate  marketed  was  utilized  for  medicinal  and  bath  purposes. 

With  the  use  of  magnesite  cement  and  stucco  coming  more  into 
prominence  in  building  construction  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  demand 
for  magnesium  chloride  is  increasing  here;  but  the  domestic  article  has 
to  meet  the  competition  of  the  clieaper,  imported  German  chloride. 

The  average  value  reported  for  the  chloride  produced  in  California 
in  1925  was  approximately  $32  per  ton,  f.o.b.  plant. 

Total    Production   of   Magnesium    Salts   in   California. 

Commercial  production  of  magnesium  chloride  in  California  was 
begun  in  1916  by  some  of  the  salt  companies,  from  the  residual 
bitterns  obtained  during  the  evaporation  of  sea  Avater  for  its  sodium 
chloride.  In  addition,  some  magnesium  sulphate,  or  'epsom  salts'  is 
also  made,  annually,  but  in  smaller  amount. 

The  total  production  of  magnesium  salts  in  California,  since  the 
beginning  of  the  industry  here,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation: 

Year  Tons  Value 

1916        __   851  $6,407 

1917 I 1,064  34,973 

1918 1,008  29,955 

1919   1,616  82,457 

1920    3,150  107,787 

1921    4,153  106,140 

1922    3,036  89,788 

1923   3,662  116,031 

1924 4,823  145,883 

1925    4,221  132,553 

Totals 27,584  $851,974 

NITRATES. 

BihliograjjJnj:  State  Mineralogist  Report  XV.  Bulletins  24,  67, 
91.    U.  S.'G.  S.,  Press  Bulletin  No.  373,  July,  1918. 

Nitrates  of  sodium,  potassium  and  calcium  have  been  found  in 
various  places  in  the  desert  regions  of  the  state,  but  no  deposit  of  com- 
mercial value  has  been  developed  as  yet.  It  is  hoped  that  a  closer 
search  may  some  day  be  rewarded  by  workable  discoveries.  At  present 
the  principal  commercial  source  of  nitrates  is  the  Chilean  saltpeter 
(sodium  nitrate)  deposits  in  South  America. 

The  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically  has  been  accom- 
plished successfully  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  The  possibilities  of 
cheap  hj^dro-electric  power  in  California  make  the  subject  one  of 
interest  to  us,  as  we  have  also  the  natural  raw  materials  and  chemicals 
to  go  with  the  power.  Sodium  and  potassium  cyanides  can  be  made 
by  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically. 


STATJSTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


12o 


POTASH. 

Bihlio(j)vp]iij:  State  Minei-alooist  Keports  XV.  XVIII,  XX,  XXU. 
Bulietiiis  24,  67,  1)1.  V.  S.  CI.  S.,  Miii.  Res.  191:},  1914,  191.1. 
Senate  Doc.  No.  190,  62:1  Congress,  2fl  Session.  ]\Iining  &  Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  112,  p.  155;  Vol.  114.  p.  789.  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.- 
Press,  Vol.  117,  p.  557,  Apr.  5,  1924. 

During  1925,  a  total  of  36,355  tons  of  potash  salts  of  all  grades  was 
jH'oduced  in  California  valued  at  $829,770,  compared  with  33,107  tons 
;ind  $747,407  in  1924.  This  was  entirely  of  chloride,  being  mainly 
t  roin  Searles  Lake  brine,  San  Bernardino  County,  but  in  part  from 
salt-works  bitterns  at  plants  in  Alameda  and  San  Mateo  counties.  Tlie 
({uality  of  the  product  varied  from  45 'yV.  to  61 'y  eciuivalent  K.,0  coii- 
l''nt;  and  the  material  was  sold  principally  for  fertilizer  manufacture. 

Imports  of  crude  potash  minerals  and  salts  into  the  United  States 
in  1925,  according  to  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign  &  Domestic  Com- 
merce, amounted  to  820,637  long  tons,  valued  at  $13,050,908,  compared 
v.'ith  632,019  tons  and  $10,440,244  in  1924.  These  materials  consi.sted 
mainly  of  'manure  .salts,'  crude  chloride  (muriate),  and  sulphate, 
and  kainite,  all  of  Avhich  are  admitted  duty-free. 

Quotations  have  recently  ranged  from  $45  per  ton,  c.i.f.,  Atlantic 
and  Gulf  ports,  for  high-grade  sulphate  f90%-95%),  to  $34  per  ton 
for  muriate  (807o-85%),  and  $18-$20  for  manure  salts  (30%). 

Other  uses  for  potash  salts,  besides  those  noted  above,  are  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  best  liquid  soap  and  some  higher-grade  cake  soaps, 
of  some  finer  grades  of  glass,  and  in  matches.  The  chemical  require- 
ments include  tanning,  dyeing,  metallurgy,  electroplating,  photog- 
raphy and  medicine. 

Total    Production   of   Potash    in   California. 

Potash  production  began  commercially  in  California  in  1914,  with  a 
small  yield  from  kelp.  Considerable  time  and  mone\'  have  been  spent 
on  research  work  incident  to  developing  deposits  of  potash-bearing 
residues  and  brines  in  the  old  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions,  and 
production  there  has  been  accomplished  on  a  commercial  scale  at  plants 
on  Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino  County.  Some  is  also  made  annually 
jrom  salt-works  bitterns,  and  for  a  time  there  was  some  from  Portland 
rciiient  dust. 

The  annual  amounts  and  value  of  these  potash  materials,  since  their 
I  'ginning  in  California  in  1914,  are  .shown  by  the  following  table: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

l:a-t  _       -     _   _ 

10 
1,076 
17,908 
129,022 
49,381 
28,118 
26,298 
14,806 
17,776 
29,597 
33,107 
36,355 

$460 

i:'15    _____                   

19,391 

i:m6                           _               _ __       _   _  _ 

663,605 

1'.'17 

4,202,889 

i;n8            __                              __      __ 

6,808,976 

]ltl9         _                      _                      _                 

2,415,963 

I'.iUO    _     _  _                                                     _         

1,465,463 

r.iL'i             _ 

390,210 

V<'22                                                _     _     _           _           _         __ 

584,388 

i:<i'3 ______              

709,836 

i;<i'4        _                          _     __     _     _____         

747,407 

!'':;->         __     .._     ._       _     __          _         ..     _. 

829,770 

Totals 

383,454 

$18.844,.'i.5S 

126 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OK    C'ATJFORNIA. 


SALT. 

Biblioyniplu):  State  ^liiiei-aloji:ii5t  Jicport^s  II,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII-XXI  (inc.)  ;  Bulletins  24,  67,  91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull. 
669.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  146. 

Most  of  the  salt  production  in  California  is  obtained  by  evaporating 
the  water  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  plants  bein^  located  on  the  shores  of 
San  Francisco,  IMonterey,  and  San  Diego  bays,  and  at  Long  Beach. 
Additional  amounts  are  derived  from  lakes  and  lake  beds  in  the  desert 
regions,  mainly  in  Kern  and  San  Bernardino  counties.  A  small  amount 
of  valuable  medicinal  salts  is  ol)tained  by  evaporation  of  the  water  of 
Mono  Lake,  IMono  County. 

Distribution  of  the  1925  salt  production  of  California,  by  counties, 
was  as  follows: 

Salt    Production,    by    Counties,    1925. 

County  Tons  Value 

Alameda 180,712  $497,692 

Kern    6,890  28,858 

San   Bernardino    28,319  101,085 

San  Mateo 31,325  155,925 

Los  Angeles,  Modoc,  Mono,*  Monterey,   San  Diego* 36,822  166,266 

Totals 284,068  $949,826 

*  Medicinal  salts.     *Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

The  above  returns  show  a  decrease  both  in  tonnage  and  value  from 
the  record  figures  of  1924,  which  were  818,800  tons  and  $1,159,137. 
Slightly  lower  market  prices  prevailed  during  1925,  as  a  result  of  price 
cutting  by  one  or  two  of  the  operators.  As  in  1924,  there  were  nine 
plants  operating  in  Alameda  County  in  1925,  but  a  total  of  only  eleven 
in  the  other  counties  tabulated  (a  decrease  of  one). 


Production   of  Salt   in   California,   by   Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  annual  production  of  salt  in  California  from 
1887  is  shown  in  the  following'  tabulation : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

28,000 
30,800 
21,000 
8,729 
20,094 
23,570 
50.500 
49.131 
53,031 
64,743 
67,851 
93,421 
82,654 
89,338 
126.218 
115,208 
102.895 
95.968 
77.118 
101,650 

$112,000 

92,400 

63,000 

57,085 

90,303 

104,788 

213,000 

140,087 

150,576 

153,244 

157,520 

170,855 

149,588 

204,754 

366,376 

205,876 

211,365 

187.300 

141,925 

213,228 

1907.- 

88,063 
121,764 
155,680 
174,920 
173,332 
185,721 
204.407 
223,806 
169,028 
186,148 
227.825 
212.076 
233.994 
230.638 
197,989 
223.238 
275.979 
318,800 
284,068 

$310,967 

1888 

1908... 

281.469 

1889. 

1909. 

414.708 

1890.-  ..     

1910.. - 

395,417 

1891 

1911 

324,255 

1892.  

1912.- 

383,370 

1893 

1913 

462,681 

1894 

1914 

583,553 

1895 

1915 

368.737 

1896 

1916..   

455.695 

1897.. 

1917 

584.373 

1898 

1918. 

806.328 

1899 

1919. 

896,963 

1900 

1920 

972.648 

1901 

1921 

832,702 

1902... 

1922 

819,187 

1903 

1923 

1,130,670 

1904..  .  . 

1924  .   -  

1,159,137 

1905 .  

1925 

949,826 

IQDR 

Totals 

5,189,395 

$15,317,956 

•STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


12  V 


SODA. 

Bibliuyvapliij:  State  Miiit'ialoji-isl    Ixcpoiis  XII,  XIII,  X\\  X\'ll. 
XVIII,  XX;  Bulletins  24,  67,  'J].     U.  S.  (leol.  Surv.,  Bull.  717. 

The  production  of  erirboiuitcs  and  siilpliMte  of  sodium  in  California 
in  1925  included:  soda  ash  and  l)icarhon;ite  from  plants  at  Owens  Lake, 
Inyo  County;  trona  ('.sesqui-carhonate,'  a  double  salt  of  Na^COa  and 
NaHCOJ  from  Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino  County;  and  salt  cake 
(sulphate)  from  the  Carrizo  Plains,  San  Luis  Obispo  County.  The 
total  amounted  to  48,625  tons  valued  at  $947,649,  being  an  increase  in 
both  ({uantity  and  value  compared  with  tlie  1924  fie'ures  of  32,536  tons 
and  $711,796. 

The  dense  ash  and  bicarl)onatc  were  nsod  mainly  in  the  manufacture 
of  soap,  glass,  and  chemicals;  the  salt  cake  in  paper  making;  and  the 
trona  for  metallurgical  purposes. 

Sodium  compounds  to  some  extent  replace  potassium  compounds,  in 
glass  and  soap  making,  in  photography,  in  match  making,  in  tanning, 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  cyanide  for  extracting  gold  and  silvei-  from 
their  ores. 


Soda    Production    of    California,    by    Years. 

The  total  output,  showing  amount  and  value  of  these  materials  in 
California  since  the  inception  of  the  statistical  records  of  the  State 
]\Iining  Bureau,  is  given  in  the  table  which  follows: 


Tear 

Tona 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1894 

1,530 

$20,000 

1911  

9,023 

$5l>.SS7 

1895 

1,900 

47,500 

1912 

7.200 

37,094 

1806 

3,000 

65,000 

1913 

1.861 

24,936 

1897 

5,000 

110,000 

1914 

6,522 

115.396 

1898 

7.000 

154,000 

1915 

5,799 

83,485 

1899 

10,000 

250,000 

1916 

10,593 

26i.825 

1900 

1,000 

50.000 

1917 

24,505 

928,578 

1901      „    -. 

8,000 

400,000 

1918        -             _      - 

20,447 

855,423 

1902 

7,000 

50.000 

1919 

21,294 

721,958 

1903  

18,000 

27,000 

1920 

32,407 

1.164,898 

1904 

12,000 

18,000 

1921 

14,828 

438.996 

1905 

15,000 

22,500 

1922 

20,084 

573.661 

1906 

12,000 

18,000 

1923 

34,885 

764,284 

1907 

1924   

32.53(i 
48.(525 

711,796 

9.600 
7,712 
8,125 

14.4(K) 
11,593 

ii.s(;2 

947,640 

1908 

Totals 

1909 

1910 

417,476 

$8,955,721 

328 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CAUFOUNIA. 


CHAPTER  SKVrON 
Introductory.  BY    COUNTIES. 

The  State  of  California  includes  a  total  area  of  158,360  square  miles, 
of  whieh  155,980  square  miles  are  of  land.  The  maximum  width  is 
235  miles,  the  minimum  1-18  miles,  and  tlie  length  from  the  northwest 
corner  to  the  southeast  corner  is  775  miles.  The  state  is  divided  into 
fifty-eight  counties.  The  1920  census  figures  show  a  total  population 
for  California  of  3,437,709.  A  January,  1925,  estimate  based  upon 
average  daily  attendance  in  elementary  schools  places  the  figure  this 
year  at  approximately  5,000,000.  Minerals  of  commercial  value  exisr 
in  every  county,  and  during  1925  some  active  production  Avas  reported 
to  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  all  of  the  fifty-eight. 

Rank   of   Counties    in    Mineral    Yield,   1925. 

Of  the  first  ten  counties,  in  point  of  total  output  for  1925,  the  first 
four,  Los  Angeles,  Kern,  Orange,  Ventura,  owe  their  position  mainly  t(i 
petroleum,  as  do  also  Fresno  (sixth)  and  Santa  Barbara  (ninth).  Los 
Angeles,  due  to  its  oil,  leads  all  the  others,  being  credited  with  44% 
of  the  entire  state's  total  for  1925,  having  passed  Kern  in  1923,  which 
led  for  many  years.  San  Bernardino  (fifth)  owes  its  place  chiefly  to 
cement,  silver,  potash,  borax,  mineral  water,  and  tungsten ;  Riverside 
(seventh)  to  cement,  stone,  l>rick  and  tile;  Plumas  to  copper;  Shasta  to 
copper,  stone,  and  pyrite ;  Santa  Cruz  to  cement.  Twenty-six  counties 
have  each  a  total  in  excess  of  a  million  dollars  for  1925.  Cement  is  an 
important  item  in  seven  of  these  counties,  gold  in  six,  and  magnesite  in 
one.  In  point  of  variety  and  diversity,  San  Bernardino  County  led  all 
the  others  in  1925,  with  a  total  of  20  different  mineral  products  on  its 
commercial  list,  followed  by  Los  Angeles  with  18 ;  by  Kern.  San  Diego 
and  Riverside  with  17  each;  Inyo,  15;  Shasta,  14;  Butte,  12;  Calaveras, 
Orange,  Placer,  11  each:  Amador,  Fresno,  !Mono,  Sacramento,  San 
Mateo,  Santa  Barl)ara,  Santa  Clai'a,  10  each.  The  counties  with  their 
mineral  resources,  production  for  1925,  etc.,  are  considered  in  detail  in 
the  following  paragraphs. 


Countii.  Value. 

Los  Angeles $193,180,000 

Kern 89,400,726 

Orange 49,104,490 

Ventura 17,853,540 

San  Bernardino 14,179,663 


(!.  Fresno 

7.  Riverside 

S.   Plumas 

9.  Santa    Barbara. 

10.    Shasta 

n.   Santa  Cruz 

12.  Alameda    

13.  Yuba 

14.  Solano    

15.  Amador 

16.  San   Benito 

17.  Inyo    

18.  Contra  Costa 

19.  Sacramento 

20.  Nevada    

21.  San    Mateo 

22.  Calaveras    

23.  Sierra 

24.  Madera    

25.  Santa   Clara 

26.  San     Diego 

27.  San  Joaquin 

28.  Humboldt    

29.  Mariposa 

30.  Tuolumne    


9,264,996 
5,179,108 
4,401,508 
4,338,431 
4,300,449 
3,227,036 
2,916,506 
2.721,594 
2,678,547 
2,625,703 
2,617,396 
2,585,145 
2,544,179 
2,504,405 
2,352,877 
1,577,513 
1,450,618 
1,386,301 
1,377,458 
1,320,858 
1,129,757 
737,818 
719,151 
634,862 
567,248 


Coxmfy. 

31.  Placer 

32.  Butte    

33.  Trinity 

3  4.   Marin 

35.  Tulare    

36.  Stanislaus 

37.  El    Dorado 

3  8.   Imperial 

39.  Monterey 

40.  Del  Norte 

41.  Napa    

42.  Siskiyou 

43.  Mono    

44.  Sonoma    

45.  San  Luis  Obispo- 
40.   San   Francisco 

47.  Colusa    

48.  (Henn 

49.  Merced 

50.  Tehama 

51.  Lake 

52.  Yolo    

53.  Mendocino 

54.  Lassen 

55.  Modoc    

56.  Alpine    

5  7.   Kings 

5  8.   Sutter 


Valite. 

$550,413 

546,178 

502,289 

434,802 

426,979 

415,466 

352,828 

330,965 

277,721 

270,582 

229,172 

219,626 

184,745 

160,231 

136,477 

131,158 

103,230 

92.288 

80,262 

77,183 

73,348 

23.060 

16,533 

2,404 

2.400 

520 

520 

397 


Total  value $434,519,660 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  129 

ALAMEDA. 

Area:  843  square  miles. 
ropulation:  344.177  (1920  census). 
Location:  East  side  of  San  Francisco  Bay. 

Alameda  County,  while  in  no  sense  one  of  the  'niiniuG:  counties,' 
comes  twelfth  on  the  list  witli  a  value  of  mineral  products  for  192r)  of 
H^2,916.r)()(;,  an  increase  over  the  1924  total,  which  was  $2,634,645.  The 
mineral  resources  of  this  count\'  include  asbestos,  brick,  cliromite,  clay, 
roal.  limestone,  mairnesite,  man.cranese,  potash,  pyrite,  salt,  soapstone, 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  ^'"'"^, 

r.rick   and  hollow   building  tile-- —,r:;7,Z^  ^^^^'11^. 

r\ay     (pottery) 9,3(J0ton.s  ^l-Ho 

Salt    --- I- 180,712tons  497,692 

Stone,    miscellaneous "'^'^li'c'^r 

'  nhc-r  minerals* 54.bb.j 

Total    value $2,916,50(1 

♦Includes  magne.sium  salts,  potash,  pyrites. 

ALPINE. 
Area:  776  square  miles. 
Population:  243  (1920  census). 
Location:  On  eastern  border  of  state,  .south  of  Lake  Talioe. 

Alpine  has  at  times  in  the  past  shown  a  small  production  mainly  of 
Liold  and  silver.  For  1925  the  total  value  was  $520  and  included  jrold, 
silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

This  county  lies  just  south  of  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  high  Sierra  Nevada. 
Transportation  is  by  auto,  wagon,  or  mule  back,  and  facilities  in  general 
;u'e  lacking  to  promote  development  work. 

The  mineral  resour(  es  of  this  section  are  varied  and  the  country  has 
not  yet  been  thoroughly  prospected.  Occurrences  of  barium,  copper, 
'jold,  gypsum,  lead,  limestone,  pyrite,  rose  cpiartz,  silver,  tourmaline, 
and  zinc  have  been  noted  here. 

AMADOR. 

Area:  601  square  miles. 

Population:  7793  (1920  census). 

Location:  East-t-entral   part  of  state — ^lother  Lode  distrit-t. 

The  value  of  Amador  County's  mineral  production  decreased  from 
-2,938.865  in  3924  to  $2,625,703,  placing  it  number  fifteen  on  the  list 
I  if  counties  in  the  state  as  regards  total  value  of  mineral  substances 
iiuirketed.     The  decrease  was  due  mainly  to  gold. 

Although  having  an  output  consisting  of  10  different  minerals,  the 
N'ading  product,  gold,  makes  up  approximately  89%  of  the  entire  total. 

Amador  at  one  time  led  the  state  in  gold  production,  th(mgh  exceeded 
ill  1920-1923  by  Yuba  and  Nevada  eounties.  but  in  1925  by  Yuba 
( 'ouuty  only. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  iiu-lude  asbe.stos,  brick,  chro- 
111  ite,  clay,  coal,  copper,  gold,  lime^stone,  quart/  crystals,  gla.ss-sand, 
>and.stone,  silver,  soapstone,  and  mi.scellaneous  stone. 

9—47818 


1-U)  MIXERAI.    IXDl^STRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ConuiUMH'ijil  ])i'()(lu('ti()ii  for  l!)*^.")  was  as  follows: 

Substancr.                                                                                                 Amoiinl.  Value. 

Clay    (pottery) R3,889  tons  $95,94ti 

Gold     2,33S,101 

Silver ir.,12:! 

Stone,   miscellaneous ?.l,ioo 

Other  minerals* ll,00:i 

Total    value $2,625,703 

♦Includes  coal,  copper,  lead,  marble. 

BUTTE. 
Area:  1722  square  miles. 
Population:  30,030  (1920  census;. 
Location:  North-central  portion  of  state. 

Butte,  thirty-second  county  in  California  in  regard  to  the  value 
of  its  mineral  output,  reported  a  commercial  production  of  twelve 
mineral  substances,  having  a  total  value  of  $")46,178  as  compared  witli 
$641,750  in  1924.  As  will  be  noted  in  the  followinof  tabulation,  gold  is 
by  far  the  mo.st  important  item.  Butte  stands  seventh  among  the  gold- 
producing  counties  of  the  state.  Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this 
section  are  a.sbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  gems,  gold,  limestone,  marble, 
mineral  water,  platinum  group,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  A^alue  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance.                                                                                                   Amount.  Value. 

Gold $355,289 

Mineral     water 4,484  gals.  2,742 

Platinum    56  fine  oz.  9,177 

Silver 4,354 

Stone,   miscellaneous 156,738 

Other   minerals* 17.878 

Total    value $546,17  8 

♦Includes  brick,  copper,  gems  (diamonds),  lead,  natural  gas,  soapstone. 

CALAVERAS. 

Area:  1027  sciuare  miles. 

Population:  6183    (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  portion  of  state — Mother  Lode  district. 

Calaveras  County  reported  production  of  11  dilferent  minerals,* 
valued  at  $1,450,618  during  the  year  1925  as  compared  with  the  1924 
output  of  $1,572,419.  Copper,  gold  and  stone  are  the  chief  mineral 
sub.stances.  For  the  current  year  1926,  cement  has  been  added,  as  the 
new  plant  of  the  Calaveras  Cement  Company,  near  San  Andreas  is  now 
in  operation.  In  regard  to  total  value  of  mineral  output,  Calaveras 
stands  twenty-second  among  the  counties  of  the  state,  for  1925,  and 
fifth  in  gold. 

The  principal  mineral  resources  developed  and  undeveloped  are : 
Asbestos,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  limestone,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  platinum  group,  pyrite,  (juartz  crystals, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  output  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance.  Amount.  Value. 

Copper    4,906,650  lbs.  $696,744 

Gold 652,433 

Silver 8,324 

Stone,    miscellaneous 78,506 

Other   minerals* 14,611 

Total    value ; $1,450,618 

♦Includes  pottery  clay,  gems  ((juartz  crystuls),  lead,  mineral  water,  iilatinum. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  131 

COLUSA. 

Area:  1140  square  miles. 
Popiijation:  9920   (1920  census). 
Location:  Sacramento  Valley. 

Colusa  County  lies  largely  in  the  basin  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 
Its  western  border,  however,  rises  into  the  foothills  of  the  Coast  Rang-e 
(if  mountains,  and  its  mineral  resources — largely  undeveloped — include 
coal,  ciiromite,  copper,  gyi)sum,  nuuigane.se,  mineral  water,  pyrite, 
(|uicksilver,  sandstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  suli)luu",  and  in  some  ])laces 
ti'aces  of  gold  and  silver. 

The  value  of  the  1925  production  was  $1():),2:)(),  an  increase  over 
1924  tigures  of  $77,267,  giving  it  forty-seventh  j)lace,  ;ind  was  as 
follows : 

Subsfancc.  Value. 

I'napportidiied*     $1  0.3,2.30 

*Include.s  mineral  water,  sand.'stone,  misoellanemi-s  .stone. 

CONTRA    COSTA. 

Area:  714  sciuare  miles. 
Popidaiion:  o8,889    (1920  census). 
Location:  East  side  of  San  Francisco  Bay. 

Contra  Costa,  like  Alameda  County,  lies  on  the  eastern  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay,  and  is  not  commonly  considered  among  the  mineral 
l)roducing  counties  of  the  state.  It  .stands  eighteenth  on  the  list  in  this 
respect,  hoAvever,  with  an  output  valued  at  $2,544,179  for  the  calendar 
year  1925.  Various  structural  materials  make  up  the  chief  items, 
including  brick,  cement,  limestone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Among 
the  others  are  asliestos,  clay,  coal,  gypsum,  manganese,  mineral  water, 
and  soapstone. 

Commercial  jiroduction  for  1925  avjis  as  follows: 

Substance.  Value. 

Stone,   miscellaneous $708,159 

Other   mineral.s* 1,836,020 

Total    value $2,544.17!) 

*Includes  clay  (pottery)  and  clay  products.  ce;nent.  lime.stone,  mineral  water.    . 

DEL     NORTE. 

Area:  1024  .s(piare  miles. 
Population:  2759   (1920  census). 
Location:  Extreme   nortliwest   corner   of   state. 
Transportation :  ]Motor,    wagon    and    mule    liaclc ;    steamei-    from 
Crescent  City. 

Del  Norte  almost  rivals  Aljiiue  County  in  regard  to  inaccessibility. 
Like  the  latter  county  also,  given  ti-ansportation  and  kindred  facilities, 
this  ])ortion  of  the  state  presents  a  field  for  development  along  mining 
lines  especially.  Its  chief  mineral  resources,  largely  untouched,  are 
chromite,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron,  platinum  group,  silver,  and  mis- 
cellaneous .stone. 

The  1925  output  was  a  decrease  from  the  figure  of  $722,2(55  in  ]i)24, 
the  ])rincipal  item  of  which  is  crushed  rock  nseil  on  iiighway  construc- 
tion, and  rock  used  on  the  Crescent  City  hai-lior  .ietty. 


132 


MINERAL    INDUi^TRY    OF    CAIiTFORNIA. 


Connnereial   in-ndnction  for   192.1,   <riv'm<i'   it    fortictli    ])]a('o,  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold $681 

Silver     1 

Stone,   miscellaneous 269,650 

Other  minerals 250 

Total    value $270,582 


EL    DORADO. 

Atra:  1753  square  miles. 
Populafion:  6426   (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  portion  of  the  state,  northernmost  of  the 
]\Iotlier  Lode  counties. 

El  Dorado  County,  whicli  contains  the  locality  where  g'old  in  Cali- 
fornia was  first  heralded  to  tlie  world,  comes  thirty-seventh  on  the  list  of 
counties  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  total  mineral  production 
during  the  year  1925.  In  addition  to  the  segregated  figures  here  given, 
a  large  tonnage  of  limestone  is  annually  shipped  from  El  Dorado  for 
use  in  cement  manufacture,  and  whose  value  is  included  in  the  state 
total  for  cement.  The  decrease  from  tlie  1924  figure  of  $395,572  was 
due  to  limestone. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  section,  many  of  them  undeveloped, 
include  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron, 
molybdenum,  limestone,  quartz  crystals,  quicksilver,  slate  soapstone, 
silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Gold $40,212 

Limestone 228,293  tons  297,127 

Silver r. 238 

Stone,   miscellaneous   10,305 

Other   minerals* 4,946 

Total  value $352,828 

♦Includes  lime  and  silica. 

FRESNO. 

Area:  5950  square  miles. 
PopuJation:  128,779  (1920  census). 
Location:  South-central  portion  of  state. 

Fresno  County,  sixth  in  importance  as  a  mineral  producer  among  the 
counties  of  California,  reported  an  output  for  1925  of  ten  mineral 
substances,  with  a  total  value  of  $9,264,996,  a  decrease  from  the 
reported  1924  production,  which  was  worth  $12,547,798. 

The  bulk  of  the  aliove  is  derived  from  the  petroleum  production  of 
the  Coalinga  field,  with  miscellaneous  stone  also  important. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  many,  and,  aside  from 
crude  oil,  are  in  the  main  not  fully  devehiped.  They  include  asbestos, 
bai'ytes,  l)rick,  chromite,  copper,  gems,  gold,  grajihite,  gypsum,  mag- 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  133 

nesite,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 
Conunereial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                        Avwiuit  Value 

Gold    $25,056 

Granite -- <J3,580 

Natural    gas I I— I 1,515,889  M  cu.  ft.         116,711 

Petroleiim     7,773,665  l)bls.  8,50:{,3!tO 

Silver    1»^ 

Stone,    miscellaneous    .lo'oni 

Other    minerals*    .18,801 

r„t.n\ $9,264,996 

*  Includes  clay  and  clay  products,  mineral  water. 

GLENN. 

Area:  1259  square  miles. 
Popniaiion:  11,853   (1920  census). 
Location:  West  side  of  Sacramento  Valley. 

Glenn  County,  standing  forty-eighth,  owes  its  position  among  the 
mineral-producing  counties  of  the  state  mainly  to  the  presence  of  large 
deposits  of  sand  and  gravel  which  are  annually  worked,  the  product 
being  used  for  railroad  ballast,  etc.  In  1917  and  1918,  chromite  was 
also  an  important  item.  In  the  foothills  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
county,  deposits  of  chromite,  copper,  manganese,  sandstone,  and  soap- 
stone  have  been  found. 

Commercial  ])roduction  for  1925  \\as  as  follows,  being  an  increase 
from  the  $41,550  of  the  previous  year: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $92,288 

HUMBOLDT. 

Area:  3634  square  miles. 
Population:  37,857  (1920  census). 

Location:   Northwestern    portion    of    state,    bordering    on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Humboldt  County  is  almost  entirely  mountainous,  transportation 
within  its  limits  being  very  largely  by  auto  and  wagon  i-oad,  and  trail, 
and  until  recent  years  was  reached  from  the  outside  world  by  steamer 
only.  The  county  is  rich  in  mineral  resources,  among  which  are  brick, 
chromite,  coal,  clay,  copper,  gold,  iron,  mineral  water,  natural  gas, 
petroleum,  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Nine  mineral  substances,  as  shown  by  the  table  given  below,  luiving 
M  total  value  of  .$719,] 51.  Avere  produced  in  1925,  as  compared  with  tlie 
1924  output  of  $485,478,  the  increase  being  due  to  the  large  aniounl 
<tf  I'ock  l)eing  useri  in  .letty  construction  at  Humboldt  Bay  (Eureka 
Harl)or).  Humboldt  ranks  twenty-eighth  among  the  counties  of  the 
state  for  the  year. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  folloAvs: 

Substance  Value 

Gold $13,142 

Silver    62 

Stone,    miscellaneous 699,740 

Other   minerals* : 6,207 

Total   value $719,151 

*  Include.*!  brick,  pottery  clay,  mineral  water,'  natural  gas,  platinum. 


I'M  .MINERAL    INDrsiin-    OI'    (  AM  lOKXIA. 

IMPERIAL. 

Area:  4089  square  miles. 

Population:  43,383  (1920  census). 

Location:  E.xtreuie  soutlieast  eoruei-  of  the  state. 

Duriuii'  1925  Imjx'rifil  County  piofluccd  six  ininci-fil  siihstanecs 
luiviji<i-  i\  total  value  of  .^330,965,  an  inen-asc  over  the  1924  output  of 
.^139, 90S.  Its  rank  is  thirty-eighth.  This  county  contains  deposits  of 
cyanite,  gold,  gypsum,  lead,  manganese,  nuirhle,  pumice,  sail,  silvci", 
sodium,  and  strontium,  largely  undeveloped. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Stone,   miscellaneous $148,942 

Other   minerals* 182! 02 3 


Total  value $330,965 

*Includes  brick,  cyanite,  gyp.sum,  pumice. 

INYO. 
Area:  10,019  square  miles. 
Population:  7031  (1920  census). 

Location:  Lies  on  eastern  border  of  state,  north  of  San  Bernardino 
County. 

Inyo,  the  second  largest  county  in  the  state,  and  containing  less  than 
one  inhabitant  per  square  mile,  is  extremely  interesting  from  a  mineral- 
ogical  point  of  view.  It  is  noted  because  of  the  fact  that  within  its 
borders  are  located  both  the  highest  point.  Mount  Whitney  (elevation 
14,502  feet),  and  the  lowest  point,  Death  Valley  (elevation  290  feet 
below  sea  level),  in  the  United  States.  In  the  higher  mountainous 
sections  are  found  many  vein-forming  minerals,  and  in  the  lake  beds 
of  Death  Valley  saline  deposits  exist. 

Inyo's  mineral  production  during  the  year  1925  reached  a  value  of 
$2,585,145,  standing  seventeenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  this 
respect.  Fifteen  different  mineral  substances  were  produced.  The 
1924  value  was  $2,110,075,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  lead.  soda, 
and  tungsten,  in  spite  of  a  drop  in  borates.  Its  mineral  resources 
include  antimony,  as])estos,  barytes,  l)orates.  copper,  dolomite,  gems, 
gold,  gypsum,  lead,  marble,  soda,  sulphur,  talc,  tungsten,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  Avas  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                                  A}nounf  Value 

Copper     73,003  lbs.  $10,367 

Gold ^ 43.774 

Lead    6,307,105  lbs.  .".48,196 

Silver 117,763 

Talc     5,335  tons  S9.134 

Zinc 145,000  lbs.  11.020 

Other  minerals* 1,764,891 

Total   value $2,585,145 

♦Includes  boi-ates,  building  stone  (tuff),  fuller's  earth,  sraphite.  limestone,  pumice, 
soda    Cash  and  bicarbonate),  tungsten  concf^ntrates. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  135 

KERN, 

A)'<'(i:  S()03  s(|iuirr  miles. 
Population:  ,14,843    (i;)2()  ('cnsiis), 
Location:  South-cent ivil  portion  of  statf. 

Kefn  County,  Ix'causc  oi'  its  ininicnscly  pi'odiu-tiN'c  oil  fields,  for 
many  years  stood  preeminent  amony  all  counties  of  Califoi-nia  in  tlu; 
value  of  its  mineral  output,  the  exact  figures  i'or  1925  being  $89,400,726. 
Kern  was  surpassed  by  both  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties  in  1923, 
but  by  Los  Angeles,  only,  in  1924-1925,  for  which  petroleum  is  also 
responsible.  The  1924  mineral  output  for  this  county  was  worth 
$74,164,451.  The  increase  was  due  to  the  higher  prices  for  crude  oil 
of  all  grades.  During  1925,  seventeen  dififerent  mineral  substances 
were  produced. 

Among  the  mineral  resources,  developed  and  undevclo{)ed,  of  tliis 
section  are  antimony,  asphalt,  borax,  l)rick,  clay,  copper,  fuller's  earth, 
gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  magnesite,  marl)le,  mineral 
paint,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  i)otash,  salt,  silver,  .soapstone,  soda, 
suli)hur,  and  tungsten. 

("ommercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                  Avioitnt  Value 

Gold     $135,545 

Natural  gas 45,049,845  M  cu.  ft.  2,290.608 

Petroleum 58,852,742  bbl.s.  84,255,094 

Salt    (;,S90tons  28,858 

Silver 7,455 

Stone,    miscellaneous 3.000 

Other   minerals* 2,6S0,1H(; 


Total  value $89,400,720 

*Includes  antimony,  borates,  brick  and  clay. 

KINGS. 
Area:  1559  square  miles. 
Population:  22,031   (1920  census). 
Location:  South-central  portion  of  the  state. 

Little  development  has  taken  place  in  Kings  ('ounty  along  mineral 
lines  to  date.  Deposits  of  fuller's  earth,  gypsum,  mineral  paint, 
natui-al  gas,  and  quicksilver,  of  undetermined  extent,  have  been  found 
in  the  county.  Some  drilling  for  oil  has  been  under  way,  ])ut  there  has. 
as  yet,  been  no  connnercial  output  recoi-ded. 

Tulai-e  Lake  is  in  Kings  County,  though  now  lai'gely  drained,  jiud 
the  land  under  cultivation. 

In  a  tie  for  fifty-sixth  place  with  Alpine  County,  commei'cial  iiiiiieral 
production  in  this  county  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Kiibstanre  Amoioif  Value 

Natural   gas 740Mcu.  ft.  $440 

Other   minerals 80 

Total  value,, __^___ ^_____,, $520. 


136  MINERAL    INDUSTUY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

LAKE. 

Area:  1278  square  miles. 
Population:  5542  (1920  census). 

Location:  About  fifty  miles  nortli  of  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the 
same  distance  inland  from  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

On  account  of  its  topography  and  natural  l)eauties,  Lake  County  is 
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  Switzerland  of  America.  The  mineral 
resources  which  exist  here  are  many  and  varied,  actual  production 
l»eing  comparatively  small,  as  shown  by  the  table  below,  and  in  tlie  past 
composed  mainly  of  quicksilver  and  mineral  water.  Some  of  the  leading 
minerals  found  in  this  section,  in  ])art  as  yet  undeveloped,  ai-e  borax, 
chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  mineral  water,  (piicksilver, 
silver,  and  sulphur. 

In  fifty-first  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                             Atnoi(,nt  Value 

Mineral   water 62,970  gal.s.  $.57,79.'? 

Stone,    miscellaneous 15,300 

Other  minerals* 255 

Total   value $73,348 

♦Includes  copper  and  natural  gas. 

LASSEN. 

Area:  4531  square  miles. 
Population:  8507  (1920  census). 
Location:  Northeast  portion  of  state. 

Lassen  County  is  one  of  the  only  partly  developed  sections  of  Cali- 
fornia. Since  about  1912  a  railroad  traversing  the  county  north  and 
south  has  been  in  operation,  thus  affording  oppoi-funity  for  develop- 
ment along  mineral  and  other  lines. 

Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  copper,  gems, 
gypsum,  gold,  silver,  and  sulphur.  In  the  past,  some  gold  had  been 
produced,  but  not  for  some  years,  until  1921,  Avhen  the  yield  again 
became  important.  In  fifty-fourth  place,  commercial  production  for 
1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                                                                   Value 
Gold $1,130 

Silver 24 

Stone,   miscellaneous 1,250 

Total   value $2,40  4 

LOS    ANGELES. 

Area:  4067  square  miles. 

Population:  936,438  (1920  census). 

Location:  One  of  the  southwestern  coast  counties. 

Mineral  production  in  Los  Angeles  County  for  the  year  1925 
amounted  in  value  to  $193,180,000  as  compared  with  the  1924  output, 
worth  $168,420,709.  This  accounts  for  U%  of  the  entire  state's  total 
for  1925,  and  ranks  Los  Angeles  County  first  in  the  state  as  a  mineral 
producer,  having  in  1924  passed  Kern  County  which  had  ])een  leading 
for  several  years.  The  advance  in  1925  Avas  due  to  higher  petroleum 
prices,  in  spite  of  decreases  by  brick  and  natural  gas. 


STATISTICS   OF   AXNC'AL    PRODUCTIOX.  1:57 

Its  output  of  brick  and  tile  was  over  three  million  dollars,  and  tliat 
I  of  petroleum  amounted  to  over  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  million 
[  dollars.  Amonj?  tlie  mineral  resources  may  be  noted  as))halt,  barytes, 
'  borax,  brick,  clay,  fuller's  eartli,  ofems,  "old.  gypsum,  infusorial  eartli, 
limestone,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  natural  <ras,  petroleum, 
;  salt,  frlass-sand,  sandstone,  seri)entine,  silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellan- 
[  eous  stone.     Some  potash  lias  been  obtained  from  kelp. 

Commercial  production  for  11)25,  consisting;  of  18  substances,  was  as 
follows : 

Substanre  Amount                                  Value 

Brick    196,955  M                      $.3,300,748 

Building   tile    (hollow)    44,345  tons                       426,178 

Clay    (pottery) 217,707  tons                       106,817 

Gold   -   409 

Mineral  water 3,811,270  gal.s.                      336,038 

Natural  ga.s 98.226,700  M    cu.   ft.        8.704,894 

Petroleum     121,214,551  bbls.              173.215,593 

Silver     -----.- 1.5.444 

Stone,    miscellaneous    6,978  605 

Other   minerals*    '    95^274 


Total  value ?l 93, 180, 000 

♦Includes  copper,  lead,  limestone,  niag-nesium  chloride,  salt,  sandstone,  zinc. 

MADERA.  , 

Area:  2112  scjuare  miles. 
PopuJaiinn:  Vl:im  (1920  census). 
Locdfion:  East-central  portion  of  .state. 

Madera  County  produced  five  different  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1925,  having  a  total  value  of  $1,377,458,  as  compared  with 
the  1924  output  worth  $955,469,  the  increase  being  due  to  granite. 
This  county  contains  deposits  of  copper,  gold,  granite,  iron,  lead, 
molybdenum,  pumice,  silver,  and  building  stone. 

In  twenty- fourth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as 
follows : 

Suhstancc  Value 

Gold     $2,366 

Granite    1,358.410 

Silver g2 

Stone,   miscellaneous   Ig  goQ 


Total    value $1,377,458 

MARIN. 
Area:  529  square  miles. 
Population:  27,842  (1920  census ,i. 
Location:  Adjoins  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 

Mineral  production  in  ]\larin  County  during  1925  amounted  to 
$434,802,  being  a  decrease  from  the  1924  figure  of  $527,231  due  to 
crushed  rock.  This  county  is  not  especially  prolific  in  minerals, 
although  among  its  resources  along  the.se  lines  are  brick,  gems, man- 
ganese, mineral  water,  .soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  thirty-fourth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,   miscellaneous $244,602 

Other   minerals* ~~_     190,200 


Ti.tal  value $434,802 

♦Includes  brick,  pottery  clay,  mineral  water. 


l;58  MINEKAIi    INDUSTRY    OV    CALIFORNIA. 

MARIPOSA. 

Area:  14()."')  siiuarc  miles. 
Populdfion:  2775  (1920  census). 

Luaiiion:    JMost    soutlicrly   of   tlie   ^lotlier    Lode   counties.      East- 
central  portion  of  state. 

Mariposa  County  is  one  of  the  distinctly  'mininfj-'  counties  of  the 
state,  although  it  stands  but  twenty-ninth  on  tlie  list  of  counties  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  foi-  1925  with  a  total  of 
$634,862,  as  compared  with  the  1924  tigure  of  $2:54,707,  the  increase 
being  due  to  stone  and  gold. 

Its  mineral  resources  are  varied ;  among  the  more  important  items 
being  barytes,  copper,  gems,  gold,  lead,  marble,  silver,  slate,  soapstone, 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 

The  Yosemite  Valley  is  in  ^lariposa  County. 

Commercial  production  for  192.1  was  as  f oIIoavs  : 

Snhstance  Value 

Gold     $192,910 

Silver 1,75  8 

Stone,    miscellaneous 436,79  4 

Other   minerals 3,500 

Total   value . $634,862 

MENDOCINO. 

Area:  3453  square  miles. 
Population:  24,116   (1920  census). 

Location:  Joins  Humboldt  County  on  the  south  and  i»ounded  by 
the  Pacitic  Ocean  on  the  west. 

Mendocino's  annual  mineral  production  has  usually  been  small,  the 
1925  output  being  valued  at  $16,533,  ranking  it  fifty-third  among  the 
counties.     That  of  1924  was  worth  $60,768. 

Deposits  of  in  part  undetermined  value  of  asbestos,  chromite,  coal, 
copper,  graphite,  magnesite,  and  mineral  water  have  been  found,  as 
well  as  traces  of  gold,  platinum,  and  silver. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

8%ibstance  Value 

Stone,    miscellaneous $11,603 

Other   minerals* 4,930 

Total  value J $16,533 

*Includes  brick,  coal,  natural  gas. 

MERCED. 
Area:  1995  sfpiare  miles. 
Population:  24,579  (1920  census). 
Location:  About  the  geographical  center  of  the  state. 

Merced  County  as  a  whole  lies  in  the  San  Joa(iuin  Valley  and  it 
figures  as  one  of  the  lesser  mineral  producing  counties  of  the  .state. 
The  1925  mineral  output  was  valued  at  $80,262  compared  with  $87,603 
in  1924,  the  decrease  being  due  to  clay  products. 

Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  were  formerly  obtained  in  important 
amounts  by  dredging,  which  ceased  in  this  county  in  1918,  though  a 
.small  yield  from  other  sources  still  continues.     Undeveloped  deposits 


STATISTICS   fe)F    ANNUAL    I'HODUCTIOX.  189 

(if  aiitiiiioiiy,  manfiiesite,  quicksilver,  and  limestone  have  l)een  noted  in 
r.'iis  county  in  addition  to  tlie  foreproinp:. 

In    forty-ninth    jilace,   commercial   production    durin<i-    ]f)2.")    \vas   as 

follows : 

sibsfanrr  Value 

I 'lay  and  clay  products $43,326 

Cold , 28!t 

Silver 1 

St  I  me.    miscellaneous 36,646 

Total  value $80,262 

MODOC. 
Area:  3823  S(|uare  miles. 
Population:    5425   (1920  census). 
Lovaiion:  Tlie  extreme  northeast  cornei-  of  the  state. 

^lodoc  County,  like  Lassen,  has  only  in  recent  years  had  tiie  benefit 
of  eoiumiinication  with  the  outside  world  by  rail.  Among  its  known 
mineral  resources  are  clay.  coal.  gold.  iron,  quicksilver,  salt,  and  silver. 
In  fifty-sixth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Unapportioned* $2,400 

♦Includes  salt  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

MONO. 

Area:  3030  s((uare  miles. 

Population:  9H0   (1920  census). 

Location:  Is  bordered  by  the  State  of  Nevada  on  the  east  and  is 

about  in  the  central  portion  of  the  state  measured  on  a  north 

and  south  line. 

<  ;old  mining  has  been  carried  on  in  portions  of  ^Mono  County  for 
111. my  years,  although  taken  as  a  whole  it  lies  in  a  somewhat  inaccessible 
iiiuitry  so  far  as  rail  transportation  is  concerned.  It  is  in  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  highly  mineralized  belt  which  was  noted  in  Inyo  County 
and  contains  among  other  mineral  resources  barytes,  clay,  copper,  gold, 
limestone,  molybdenum,  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  travertine. 

In  forty-third  i)lact\  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

;,er   1,020  lbs.  $14.5 

■  l    5,503 

i    22,488  lbs.  1.957 

.-,..    1-    _■ 1.590 

Stone,     miscellaneous 29,250 

Other   minerals* 146.300 


Total  value $184,7  45 

♦Includes  onyx,  pumice,  travertine,  salt,  silica   (stucco-sand)  sillimanite-andalusite. 

MONTEREY. 

Area:  3330  square  miles. 

Population:  27,980  (1920  census). 

Location :  West-central  portion  of  state,  bordering  on  Pacific  Ocean. 

^Monterey  County  produced  nine  mineral  sub.stances  during  tlie  year 
1925.  having  a  total  value  of  $277,721,  as  compared  with  the  1924  out- 
put worth  !|^286,490.  the  decrease  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone.  Its 
tiiiiieral  resources  include  brick',  day.  copper,  coal,  diatomaceous  earth. 


140  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

(lolomito,  feldspar,  fuller's  eai'th,  f^'oUl,  ii:ypsum,  limestone,  mineral 
water,  ])etroleiiiii,  (luieksilver,  <iiass-sa]Kl,  sandstone,  silver,  and  miscel- 
laneous stone. 

In  thirty-ninth  place,  conmiercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Clay   (pottery) 414  tons  $l,lfil 

Gold    998 

Silver 3 

Stone,    miscellaneou.s 20!i,423 

Other   minerals* 6G,136 

Total  value $277,721 

♦Includes  diatomaceous  earth,  quicksilver,  .«ialt,  shale  building  stone,  silica  (gla.ss 
sand) . 

NAPA. 

Area:  783  square  miles. 
Population:  20,678  (1920  census). 

Location:  Directly  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay — one  of  the  'ba^ 
counties. ' 

Napa,  because  of  its  production  of  structural  and  industrial  mate- 
rials and  mineral  water,  stands  forty-first  on  the  list  of  mineral- 
producing  counties  in  California.  Its  mineral  resources  include 
chroinite,  copper,  gypsum,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  fpiicksilver,  sand- 
stone, and  miscellaneous  stone.  In  the  past  this  county  has  been  one  of 
the  important  producers  of  quicksilver. 

In  1925  the  value  of  the  output  decreased  to  $229,172  from  the  1924 
figure  of  $359,265. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                                 Amount  Value 

Gold $195 

Mineral  water 63,836  gals.  44,251 

Silver 1,420 

Stone,    miscellaneous 177,186 

Other   minerals 6,120 


Total    value $229,172 

NEVADA. 

Area:  974  scjuare  miles. 

Population:  10,860  (1920  census). 

Location:  North  of  Lake  Tahoe,  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  state. 

Nevada,  one  of  the  mountain  counties  of  California,  for  some  years 
alternated  with  Amador  in  the  gold  lead,  but  both  were  passed  ])v  Yuba 
in  1918-1921,  also  1923.  In  1922  and  1924,  Nevada  led,  but  dropped 
to  third  place  in  1925.  Nevada  County  stands  twentieth  on  the  list 
in  regard  to  value  of  its  total  mineral  output  with  a  figure  of  $2,352,877 
as  compared  with  the  1924  production  worth  $2,945,267.  The  decrease 
is  due  to  gold. 

While  this  county  actually  produces  mainly  gold  and  silver,  its 
resources  cover  a  wide  scope,  including  antimony,  asbestos,  barytes, 
bismuth,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  iron,  lead,  mineral  paint,  pyrite, 
soap.stone.  and  tungsten. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNTAL    I'liODUCTiOX.  141 

Coniinercial  production  t'oi-  1!)2')  wns  ;)s  follows: 

Substaiifc  Value 

r.>M $2,305,607 

Silver 32,155 

Sii>ne,  miscellaneous 10,333 

(  ttlier    minerals* 4.782 


Total  value $2,352,87  7 

♦Includes  cliromite,  copper,  granite,   lead. 

ORANGE. 

Area:  795  scjuare  miles. 

Populutiou:  61,37o  (1920  census). 

Location:  Southwestern  portion  of  state,  bordering  Pacific  Ocean. 

Orange  County  is  one  of  the  many  in  California  which  on  casual 
iiisj)ection  appears  to  be  anything  l)ut  a  mineral  producing  section.  It 
stood  for  several  years,  however,  as  the  second  county  in  the  state  in 
regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output,  on  account  of  its  highly 
productive  oil  fields.  It  was  passed  in  1922  by  Los  Angeles,  the  credit 
for  which  is  also  due  to  oil,  and  in  turn  Orange  passed  Kern  County  in 
1!>28,  but  dropped  back  to  third  in  192-4  and  1925. 

This  county  .shows  an  increase  in  1925,  with  a  total  value  of  mineral 

products  of  $49,104,490,  compared  to  the  1924  output,  worth  $40,481,- 

210  due  to  petroleum.     Orange  passed  Sha.sta  County  in  1917,  Avhicli 

.  previously  for  a  number  of  years  had  exceeded  all  other  counties  in 

(  aliforuia.  except  Kern. 

Aside  from  the  substances  actually  produced  and  noted  in  the  table 
below,  coal,  gypsum,  iron,  infusorial  earth,  sandstone,  and  tourmaline 
have  been  found  in  Orange  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows  : 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Brick    3,253  M  $39,445 

Clav  (potterv)   13,431  tons  42,562 

Gold 52 

Natural  gas 26,324,364  M  cu.  ft.  2,324,014 

Petroleum 32,734,420  bbls.  46,384.673 

Silver 995 

Stone,    miscellaneous 307.112 

Other  minerals* 5,637 


Total    value $49,104.49u 

♦Includes  coi<per,  lead,  zinc. 

PLACER. 

Area:  1395  square  miles. 

Population:  18,584  (1920  census). 

Location:  Eastern  border  of  state  directly  west  of  Lake  Tahoe. 

While  standing  only  thirty-first  on  the  list  of  mineral  producing 
'iiunties.  Placer  contains  a  wide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  some 
ol'  which  have  not  been  com.mercially  exploited.  Its  leading  products 
iiiiiiide  gold,  chromite,  granite,  copi)er,  and  clay.  Other  mineral 
I  I'^oiirces  are  asbestos,  brick,  coal,  gems,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  magnesite. 


142  MIXKK'AI,     l.XDrS'l'lxV    Ol'    CAIJFORXIA. 

iiuinjiiiiiesc,  marble,  (|iuirt/  crystals,  j^lass-sand,  silver,  and  luiseellaiieouS' 
stoiie. 

Coimiiercia]  ])i'()diU'tioii  for  1!)25  was  as  follows,  eompai'ed  to  a  total 
value  of  ^^4!)2,1S()  for  Ww  i)reeedin<4'  yeai': 

S)ibf<t(incc                                                                                            A)n(>unt  Value 

llrick    and   hollow   building   tile $147,981 

Clay    (pottery) 102,598  tons  138,813 

Cold 121.78.''> 

Cranite 14,929 

Silver G20 

Stone,    mi.scellaneou.s 117,990 

Other   minerals* 8,29.5 


Total    value if.j,",0,413 

♦Includes  chroinite.  copper,  silica    (quarts). 

PLUMAS. 
Area:  259-4  square  miles. 
I'op)(lafio)):  5681  (1920  census). 
Locafion:  Northeastern  l)order  of  state,  south  of  Lassen  County. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  area  of  Plumas  County  lies  in  the  high 
mountains,  and  deposits  of  the  metals,  especially  golcl  and  copper,  are 
found  there.  ^lineral  production  for  1925  was  valued  at  $4,406,508,  the 
increase  being  due  to  copper  and  silver.  This  placed  the  county 
eleventh  in  rank.  In  1919  Plumas  passed  Shasta  in  the  copper  lead, 
owing  to  the  Shasta  smelters  being  closed  down,  which  position  Plumas 
still  retains. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are  chromite,  copper,  gold,  granite,  iron, 
lead,  limestone,  manganese,  molyl)demum,  platinum,  silver,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  })roduction  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Valv 

Copper     26,950,029  lbs.  $3,826,9u4 

Gold 249,540 

Silver 294,254 

Other    minerals* 30,810 


Total    value $4,401,508 

♦Includes  chromite,  granite,  manganese  ore,  miscellaneous  stone. 

RIVERSIDE. 

Area:  7240  square  miles. 
Population:  60,297   (1920  census). 
Location:  Southern  portion  of  state. 

Riverside  is  the  fourth  county  in  the  state  in  size  and  the  seventh  in 
regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1925.  AVithin  its  borders 
are  included  mountain,  desert,  and  agricultural  land.  Its  mineral 
resources  include  metals,  structural  and  industrial  materials  and  salines, 
some  of  the  more  important  being  brick,  cement,  clay,  coal,  copper, 
feldspar,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  mag- 
nesite,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  salt,  soapstone,  silver, 
miscellaneous  stone  and  tin.  In  point  of  variety,  Riverside  County 
showed  seventeen  ditferent  minerals  commercially  produced  in  1925. 
The  increase  in  1925  from  the  1924  value  of  $5,508,244  was  due  to 
cement. 


STATISTICS   OF    AXNIAL    PHODUCTIOX.  14a 

('oiiinicrcial  prodiit-tion   for  l!)2r)  was  as  follows: 

f^iihstaiice                                                                                            A»iohiiI  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  buiUlitip  tile ^^?5'S?9 

Se^^'""""^'^ ::-::::::::  2ku^Z:'  ''^^ 

FSpar"::::::::::::::::::::::::--:---: i.ono  tons  16.090 


Oold 


3,681 


( r ra  nitp  _ 62, 2. {4 

Lead  __:::":::_:: ' - 135,872  ibs.  11,821 

Silica    (quartz) 8,121  tons  '^^I2IJ 

Silver _    i,uiO 

Stt)ne,    miscellaneous ii,^f'2f*^ 

Other   minerals* 3,7'.t.^,730 

Total  value 15,17  9,108 

♦Includes  cement,  coal,  gyjjsum,  min-^ral  walei-. 

SACRAMENTO. 

A)-ea:  983  square  miles. 
Population:  90,978   (1920  census). 
Location:  North-central  portion  of  state. 

Sacraineiito  stands  nineteenth  amonij  the  counties  of  the  state  as  a 
mineral  producer,  the  output,  principally  gold,  for  1925,  being  valued 
at  $2,501,405,  as  compared  with  the  1924  production,  worth  $2,196,210. 
In  regard  to  gold  output  alone,  this  county  ranks  tifth,  l)eing  exceeded 
only  by  Yuba,  Nevada,  Amador  and  Sierra  counties,  the  Sacramento 
product  coming  from  the  dredges.  Its  mineral  resources  include  brick, 
clay,  gold,  granite,  natural  gas.  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous 
stone. 

Suhstduce  Value 

Brick    and    hollow    building    tile $354,078 

Clav    (pottery)    2,748 

Gold    -  —  ___-_ 1,302.320 

Granite    : lou,2o0 

Silver -r'^'-lV* 

Stone,    miscellaneous    50O,3.o9 

Other    minerals*    -- 97,730 

Total   value $2,504,405 

•Includes  natural  gas  and  platinum. 

SAN    BENITO. 

Area:  1392  square  miles. 
Population:  8995  (1920  census). 
Location:  We.st-central  i)ortion  of  state. 

While  sixteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  regard  to  value 
of  total  mineral  production  foi'  1925,  San  Benito  has  led  for  .some  years 
in  one  important  branch  of  the  mineral  industry,  namely,  (|uicksilver. 
Cement  is  also  an  important  item. 

Its  other  mineral  resources,  many  of  thi'iii  undevcloix'd.  iiicludt'  anti- 
mony, asbestos,  bituminous  rock,  cliromite,  coal,  dolomite,  gems,  gypsum, 
limestone,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

(Jommercial  lu'oduction  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

fiubstance                                                                                            Anioioit  Value 

Quicksilver    6,085flasks  $4Sr,.797 

Stone,    miscellaneous -• 351.363 

Other    minerals* 1,779,236 


Total  value $2,617,390 

•Includes  asbestos,  cement,  dohimite,  magnesite,  mineral  water. 


344  MINEUAIi    INDlTSTin'    OK    CALIFORNIA. 


SAN     BERNARDINO. 

Are(t :  20,157  .square  miles. 
Population:  73,401    (1920  census). 
Lovaiion:  Southeastern  i)orti()n  of  state. 

San  Bernardino,  hy  i'ar  the  lai'gest  county  in  the  state  in  area,  i-anks 
fifth  as  regards  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1925  with  a  total  of 
$14,179,663,  as  compared  with  the  1924  total  of  .+12,642,431.  The 
increase  is  due  mainly  to  cement,  !)ut  in  part  to  horjitcs,  mineral  water, 
and  potash. 

San  Bernardino  for  several  years  (except  1918)  has  led  all  otiier 
counties  in  the  state  in  point  of  variety  of  minerals,  i)r()ducing-  com- 
mercially during  1925  a  total  of  20  different  suhstances.  This  county 
also  ranks  first  as  a  silver  jiroducer  in  the  state,  from  the  mines  of  the 
Randsburg  disti-ict.  In  fact,  tlie  California  Rand  mine,  there,  has  l)een 
the  largest  single  producer  in  the  United  States  for  several  years  past. 

This  county,  consisting  largely  of  mountain  and  desert  country,  is 
highly  mineralized,  the  following  being  included  among  its  resources: 
Asbestos,  barytes,  borax,  brick,  cement,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  granite, 
gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
mineral  water,  nitre,  potash,  salt,  soapstone,  soda,  miscellaneous  stone, 
strontium,  talc,  tungsten,  vanadium,  and  zinc. 

Conunercial  i)roduction  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                       Anowit  Value    ] 

Cement    5,079,281  bbls.  .$8,828,044 

Clay    (pottery) 1,,540  ton.s  11,000 

Copper     6,249  lbs.  888 

Gold        157,374 

Lead    61,480  lbs.  5,349 

Lime    17,495  tons  124,446 

Limestone 13,239  tons  27,569 

Salt    28,319  tons  101,085 

Silver 1,378,392 

Stone,    miscellaneous 395,048 

Other   minerals* 3,150,468 

Total  value $14,179,663 

*Includes  borates,  calcium  chloride,  fuller's  earth,  mineral  water,  petroleum,  potash, 
soda  (trona),  talc,  tungsten  concentrates. 

SAN    DIEGO. 
Area:  4221  square  miles. 
Population:  312,248  (1920  census). 
Location:  Extreme  southwest  corner  of  state. 

San  Diego  ranks  twenty-sixth  in  tlie  total  value  of  its  mineral  output 
for  the  year,  with  17  different  comiiKM-cial  minerals.  The  value  for 
]925  equaled  $1,129,757,  as  eoiiii)ared  witli  the  1924  output  woi-tli 
$1,013,119. 

In  the  production  of  gems,  San  l)iego  County  has  led  the  state. 
Aside  from  minerals  commercially  produced,  as  shown  below,  San 
Diego  County  contains  occurrences  of  bismuth,  lithia,  marble,  nickel, 
soapstone,  and  tin.    Potash  has  been  produced  from  kelp. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  145 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  building  tile $119,165 

Gems   9,413 

Clay    (pottery) 26,976  tons                   66,427 

Gold 5,134 

Granite    108,703 

Mineral  water 81,374  gals.                 21,137 

Silver 58 

Stone,    miscellaneous 508,538 

Other   minerals* 291,182 


Total   value ?1, 129,7 57 

♦Includes  feldspar,  fuller's  earth,  lime,  magnesium  chloride,  salt,  silica. 

SAN    FRANCISCO. 

Area:  43  square  miles. 
Population:  506,676  (1920  census). 

Surprising  as  it  maj-  appear  at  first  glance,  San  Francisco  County 
is  listed  among  the  mineral  producing  sections  of  the  state,  actual 
production  consisting  mainly  of  crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel.  Small 
quantities  of  various  valuable  mineral  substances  are  found  here, 
including  cinnabar,  gypsum,  lignite,  and  magnesite,  none,  however,  in 
paying  quantities.    Some  pumice  has  been  produced. 

In  fortj'-sixth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Stone,    miscellaneous $131,158 

SAN   JOAQUIN. 

Area:  1448  square  miles. 
Population:  79,905  (1920  census). 
Location:  Central  portion  of  state. 

San  Joaquin  County  reported  a  mineral  production  for  the  year 
1925  having  a  total  value  of  $737,818,  as  compared  with  the  1924  output 
worth  $602,500. 

Comparatively  few  mineral  substances  are  found  here,  the  chief  ones 
being  brick,  claj-,  manganese,  natural  gas,  glass-sand,  and  miscellaneous 
stone.  Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  have  been  obtained  by  dredging  in 
the  Mokelumne  River,  which  forms  the  boundary  between  this  county 
and  Amador  on  the  northeast. 

In  twenty-ninth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  building  tile $472,983 

Stone,   miscellaneous   103,237 

Other  minerals 161,598 


Total   value $737,818 


10 — 47818 


146  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

SAN   LUIS  OBISPO. 

Area:  3334  square  miles. 
Populaiion:  21,893  (1920  census). 

Location:  Bordered  l)y  Kern  County  on  the  east  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean  on  the  west. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  production  of  San  Luis  Obispo  County 
in  1925  was  $136,477,  as  compared  with  the  1924  output,  worth 
$317,779,  the  decrease  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone  and  sodium  sul- 
I>hate.  Among  its  mineral  resources,  both  developed  and  undeveloped, 
are  asphalt,  bituminous  rock,  brick,  chromite,  coal,  copper,  diatoma- 
ceous  earth,  gypsum,  iron,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  water,  onyx, 
petroleum,  quicksilver,  soda,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  thirty-eighth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                                  Amount  Value 

Gold    5840 

Petroleum    29,590  bbls.  32,164 

Silver    en  no 

Stone,  miscellaneous ro'cro 

Other  minerals* 53,353 

Total   values $136,477 

•Includes  brick,  chromite,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  quicksilver,  sodium  sulphate. 

SAN    MATEO. 

Area:  447  square  miles. 

PopuJation:  36,781  (1920  census). 

Location:  Peninsula,  adjoined  by  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 

San  Mateo's  most  important  mineral  products  are  stone  and  salt,  ihi 
last-named  being  derived  by  evaporation  from  the  waters  of  San  Fran^ 
Cisco  Bay.  The  total  value  of  all  mineral  production  during  1925 
equaled  $1,577,513,  as  compared  with  the  1924  figures  of  $302,171,  the 
increase  being  due  to  the  starting  of  operations  by  the  new  cement 
plant  of  the  Pacific  Portland  Cement  Company  at  Redwood  City. 

Small  amounts  of  liarytes,  chromite,  infusorial  earth,  and  quicksilver 
have  been  noted  in  addition  to  the  items  of  economic  value  given  below. 
Bricks  have  also  been  proflueed  commercially. 

In  twenty -first  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Salt    31,325  tons        $155,925 

Stone,    miscellaneous 90,757 

Other   minerals* 1,330,831 

Total  value $1,577,513 

♦Includes  cement,  gems  (jasper),  magnesium  chloride,  natural  gas,  petroleum, 
potash. 

SANTA    BARBARA. 

Area:  2740  square  miles. 
Population:  41,097  (1920  census). 

Location:    Southwestern    portion    of    state,    adjoining    San    Luis 
Obispo  on  the  south. 

Santa  Barbara  County  owes  its  position  of  ninth  in  the  state  in 
regard  to  its  mineral  output  to  the  presence  of  productive  oil  fields 


STATISTICS   OF   AXXUAL   PRODUCTION.  147 

within  its  boundaries.  The  total  value  of  its  mineral  production  during 
the  year  1925  was  $4,338,431,  as  compared  with  the  1924  output  of 
$5,159,740,  and  included  ten  dilt'erent  mineral  substances. 

Aside  from  the  mineral  substances  listed  below,  Santa  Barbara 
Countj^  contains  asphalt,  diatomaceous  earth,  gilsonite,  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  and  quicksilver  in  more  or  less  abundance. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                     Amount  Value 

Brick    4,205  M  $56,781 

Hollow   building   tile 1,864  tons  18,706 

Clay  (pottery) 2.390  tons  5,800 

Natural  gas 2,545,208  M  cu.  ft.  248, 70S 

Petroleum 2,647,380  bbls.  2,419,70S 

Stone,    miscellaneous 106,665 

Other   minerals* 1,482,066 

Total   value $4,338,431 

•Includes  diatomaceous  earth,  mineral  water,  shale  oil. 

SANTA   CLARA. 

Area:  1328  square  miles. 
Population:  100,588  (1920  census). 
Location:  West-central  portion  of  state. 

Santa  Clara  County  reported  a  mineral  output  for  1925  of  $1,320,858, 
as  compared  with  the  1924  figures  of  $1,150,401. 

This  county,  lying  largely  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains,  contains 
a  wide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  including  brick,  chromite,  clay, 
limestone,  magnesite,  manganese,  mineral  water,  petroleum,  quicksilver, 
soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  twentj^-fifth  place,  commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Brick 24,250  M  $251,059 

Clay    (pottery) 1,516  tons  3,216 

Petroleum 13,828  bbls.  22,594 

Stone,    miscellaneous 453,273 

Other   minerals* 590, 7i8 

Total  value $1,320,858 

♦Including  limestone,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  quicksilver. 

SANTA   CRUZ. 

Area:  435  square  miles. 
Popnlation:  26,269  (1920  census). 

Location:   Bordering   Pacific    Ocean,    just   south    of    San   Mateo 
County. 

The  mineral  output  of  Santa  Cruz  County,  a  portion  of  whicli  is 
itemized  below,  amounted  to  a  total  value  of  $3,227,036,  giving  the 
county  a  standing  of  eleventh  among  all  others  in  tlie  state  in  this 
regard. 

The  decrease  from  the  1924  figure  of  $4,339,233  is  due  to  cement. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amotnit  Value 

Lime    16,534  tons  $224,724 

Limestone 16,551  tons  33,102 

Stone,  miscellaneous 21,125 

Other   minerals* 2,948,085 

Total  value $3,227,036 

•Includes  bituminous  rock  and  cement. 


148  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

SHASTA. 

Area:  3858  square  miles. 
Population:  13,311  (1920  census). 
Location:  North-central  portion  of  state. 

Shasta  County  stood  tenth  in  California  among  the  mineral  produc- 
ing counties  for  1925,  with  an  output  valued  at  $4,300,449,  as  compared 
with  the  1924  production  worth  $4,754,604,  the  decrease  being  due  to 
copper,  and  in  part  to  gold  and  stone,  though  zinc  advanced. 

The  marked  decrease  since  1918  is  due  to  the  falling  off  in  the  output 
of  copper,  the  large  plants  of  the  Mammoth  and  Mountain  copper 
companies  being  shut  down.  Not  taking  petroleum  into  account,  Shasta 
for  a  number  of  years  led  all  of  the  counties  by  a  wide  margin ;  but  in 
1919-1923  was  passed  l)y  San  Bernardino,  Plumas,  Yuba,  Inyo,  Sacra- 
mento, Nevada,  and  Amador,  among  the  'metal'  counties,  though  by 
only  San  Bernardino  and  Plumas  of  that  group  in  1925. 

Shasta's  mineral  resources  include  asbestos,  barytes,  brick,  chromite, 
coal,  copper,  gold,  iron,  lead,  lime,  limestone,  mineral  water,  molyb- 
denum, pyrite,  silver,  soapstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc. 

Lassen  Peak  is  located  in  southeastern  Shasta  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                           Amount  Value 

Cot)Der 14,565,967  lbs.  $2,068,367 

Gold :__: 235,013 

Lead    647,886  lbs.  56,366 

Limestone 24,395  tons  28,480 

Platinum 8  fine  oz.  725 

Silver 208,818 

Stone,    miscellaneous 349,617 

Zinc    11,090,430  lbs.  842,873 

Other  minerals 510,190 

Total  value $4,300,449 

♦Includes  chromite,  diatomaceous  earth,  iron  ore,  pyrites,  talc. 

SIERRA. 

Area:  923  square  miles. 

Population:  1783  (1920  census). 

Location:  Eastern  border  of  state,  just  north  of  Nevada  County. 

Sierra  County  reported  a  mineral  production  of  $1,386,301,  mainly 
of -gold  and  silver,  during  the  year  1925,  as  compared  with  the  1924 
output  w^orth  $812,476,  the  increase  being  due  to  gold.  Considering 
gold  output  alone  this  county  stands  fourth;  and  as  to  total  mineral 
yield  twenty-third. 

Aside  from  the  metals  itemized  below.  Sierra  County  contains 
deposits  of  asbestos,  chromite,  copper,  iron,  lead,  platinum,  serpentine, 
and  talc. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold ^^•^'^I'l^.l 

Silver 8.919 

Stone,    miscellaneous d,677 

Total  value $1,386,301 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTrON.  149 

SISKIYOU. 

Area:  6256  square  miles. 
Population:  18,545  (1920  census). 

Location:  Extreme  north-central  portion  of  state,  next  to  Oregon 
boundary. 

Siskiyou,  fifth  county  in  California  in  regard  to  size,  located  in  a 
liiglily  mineralized  and  mountainous  country,  ranks  forty-fourth  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1924. 

Although  this  county  is  traversed  b}^  a  transcontinental  railroad  in  a 
north  and  south  line,  the  mineral-bearing  sections  are  almost  without 
exception  far  from  transportation  and  other  facilities.  A  large  part 
of  the  county  is  accessible  by  trail  only.  Future  development  and 
exploitation  will  increase  the  productiveness  of  this  part  of  the  state 
to  a  considerable  degree. 

]\Iount  Shasta  is  located  in  Siskij-ou  County. 

Among  Siskiyou's  mineral  resources  are  chromite,  clay,  coal,  cop- 
per, gems,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  water, 
pumice,  quicksilver,  sandstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold $180,120 

Lime  and  limestone 3,535 

Silver     831 

Stone,    miscellaneous 23,800 

Other   minerals* 11,340 

Total   value $219,626 

♦Includes  mineral  water,  platinum,  sandstone. 

SOLANO. 

Area:  822  square  miles. 

Population:  40,602   (1920  census). 

Location:  Touching  San  Francisco  Bay  on  the  northeast. 

Solano,  while  mostly  valley  land,  produced  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1925  to  the  total  value  of  $2,678,547,  ranking  fourteenth  among 
the  counties  of  the  state,  the  decrease  from  the  1924  figures  of  $3,089,- 
475  being  due  to  cement. 

Among  her  mineral  resources  are  brick,  cement,  clay,  fuller's  earth, 
limestone,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  onyx,  quicksilver,  salt  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Vahie 

Stone,    miscellaneous $145,484 

Other   minerals* 2,533,063 

■    Total  value $2,678,547 

♦Includes  cement,  mineral  water,  onyx,  travertine. 

SONOMA. 
Area:  1577  square  miles: 
Population:  51,990  (1920  census). 

Location:  South  of  Mendocino  County,  bordering  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

Sonoma  ranked  forty-fourth  among  the  counties  of  California  during 
the  year  1925,  with  a  mineral  production  of  $160.2.31,  as  compared  witli 


150  MIfTERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

its  1924  output  of  $172,051.  More  paving  blocks  have  been  turned  out 
here  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  state,  but  this  industry  has  now 
ceased,  owing  to  the  construction  of  smooth-surface  pavements  both 
in  the  cities  and  on  the  hig'liways. 

Among  Sonoma 's  mineral  resources  are  brick,  chromite,  clay,  copper, 
graphite,  infusorial  earth,  magnesite,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
mineral  water,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                                Amount  Value 

Mineral  water 19,963  gals.  $6,619 

Quicksilver 351  flasks  29,134 

Stone,    miscellaneous 119.546 

Other   minerals* 2,200 

Total  value $160,231 

•Includes  pottery  clay,  building  stone   (tuff),  manganese  ore. 

STANISLAUS. 

Area:  1450  square  miles. 

Population:  43,557  (1920  census). 

Location:  Center  of  state,  bounded  on  south  by  Merced  County. 

Gold  has  usually  been  the  chief  mineral  product  of  Stanislaus  County, 
but  it  was  exceeded  in  1918-1919  by  manganese,  and  in  1921-1923  and 
1925,  by  miscellaneous  stone.  Brick,  clay,  gypsum,  mineral  paint, 
quicksilver,  and  silver  are  found  here  to  some  extent  as  well.  This 
county  for  1925  ranks  thirty-sixth  in  the  state  in  regard  to  value  of 
minerals,  with  an  output  of  $415,466,  as  compared  with  $345,138  in 
1924,  the  increase  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone,  though  there  was  a 
decrease  in  gold  yield.  Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  are  obtained  mainly 
by  dredging. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold $171,742 

Silver     694 

Stone,   miscellaneous 221,256 

Other   minerals* 21,774 

Total   value $415,466 

♦Includes  magnesite,  manganese  ore,  mineral  paint,  platinum. 

SUTTER. 

Area:  608  square  miles. 
Population:  10,115   (1920  census). 

Location:  Bounded  by  Butte  County  on  the  north  and  Sacramento 
on  the  south. 

Sutter  is  one  of  only  two  counties  in  tlie  state  which  for  a  number  of 
years  reported  no  commercial  output  of  some  kind  of  mineral  sub- 
stance. In  1917  some  crushed  rock  was  taken  out,  from  the  Mary.sville 
Buttes,  also  in  1925.  There  has  been  some  utilization  of  natural  gas. 
The  1925  mineral  yield  was  valued  at  $397,  being  concealed  under 
'unapportioned. '  Both  claj^  and  coal  exist  here,  but  deposits  of  neither 
mineral  have  been  placed  on  a  productive  basis. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  151 

TEHAMA. 
Area:  2893  square  miles. 

Population:  12,882  (1920  census). 

Location:  North-central    portion    of    the    state,    bounded    on    the 
north  by  Shasta. 

Tehama  stands  fiftietli  among  the  mineral  producing  counties  of  the 
state  for  1925  when  its  output  was  valued  at  $77,183,  as  compared  with 
the  1924  jneld  worth  $34,454,  the  increase  being  due  to  stone. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are  listed  brick,  chromite,  copper, 
gold,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  water,  salt,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

The  1925  yield  was  distributed  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Unapportioned*    $77,183 

*Includes  brick  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

TRINITY. 

Area:  3166  square  miles. 
Fopulation:  2551  (1920  census). 
Location:  Northwestern  portion  of  state. 

Trinit}',  like  its  neighbor,  Siskiyou  County,  requires  transportation 
facilities  to  further  the  development  of  its  many  and  varied  mineral 
resources.  Deposits  of  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  copper,  gold,  mineral 
water,  platinum,  quicksilver,  silver,  and  building  stone  are  known  here, 
but  with  the  exception  of  gold,  chromite,  copper,  quicksilver,  and  plati- 
num, very  little  active  production  of  these  mineral  substances  has  been 
made  as  yet.  The  1925  output  of  $502,289  shows  a  decrease  from  the 
1924  figure  of  $509,344,  due  to  copper,  giving  the  county  rank  of 
thirty-third  for  the  year. 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Copper     439,766  lbs.  $62,447 

Gold 424,037 

Platinum    26  fine  oz.  3,081 

Silver     7,724 

Stone,    miscellaneous 5,000 

Total   value $502,289 

TULARE. 

Area:  4856  square  miles. 
Population:  59,031  (1920  census). 

Location:  Bounded  by  Inj^o  on  the  east,  Kern  on  the  south,  Fresno 
on  the  north. 

Tulare  stands  thirty-fifth  on  the  list  of  mineral  producing  counties, 
the  decrease  from  the  1924  value  being  due  mainly  to  magnesite. 

This  county's  mineral  resources,  among  others,  are  brick,  clay, 
copper,  feldspar,  graphite,  gems,  limestone,  magnesite,  marble,  quartz, 
glass-sand,  soapstone,  misceUaneous  stone,  and  zinc.  Tulare  for  a 
number  of  years  led  the  state  in  magnesite  output,  except  in  1918  when 
it  was  passed  by  Napa  County,  and  in  1921-1925  by  Santa  Clara. 


152  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Granite $62,260 

Limestone    13,300  tons  i'-'./.^'U) 

Magnesite    18,150  tons  21j.:..'.7 

Natural    gas 2S0Mcu.  ft.  175 

Stone,  miscellaneous 47,176 

Other    minerals* 27,911 


Total  value $426,979 

♦Includes  brick  and  lime. 

TUOLUMNE. 
Area:  2190  square  miles. 

PopuJation:  7768  (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  portion  of  state — Mother  Lode  District. 

Tuolumne  ranks  thirtieth  among  counties  of  the  state  relative  to  its 
total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1925.  This  county  ranks  first  as  a 
producer  of  marble  in  the  state.  The  decrease  in  the  year's  valuation 
to  $567,248  for  1925  from  the  1924  figure  of  $629,156  was  due  mainly 
to  gold. 

Chromite,  clay,  copper,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
platinum,  soapstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone  are  among  its 
mineral  resources. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold $155,592 

Lime   and   limestone   268,000 

Silver     614 

Stone,   miscellaneous 29,751 

Other  minerals 113,305 

Total   value $567,248. 

♦Includes  dolomite,  granite,  marble. 

VENTURA. 

Area:  1878  square  miles. 
Population:  28,724  (1920  census). 

Location:    Southwestern   portion    of    state,    bordering   on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Ventura  is  the  fourth  county  in  the  state  in  respect  to  the  value  of 
its  mineral  production  for  1925,  the  exact  figure  being  $17,853,540,  as 
compared  with  the  output  for  1924  worth  $6,089,394,  the  increase  being 
due  to  petroleum  and  natural  gas. 

The  highest  gravity  petroleum  produced  in  the  state  is  found  here. 

Among  its  other  mineral  resources  are  asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay, 
mineral  water,  natural  gas,  sandstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1925  was  as  follows : 

Substance  A^nount  Vahie 

Natural  gas 20,144,646  M  cu.  ft.  $1,953,163 

Petroleum 9,221,846  bbls.  15,769,357 

Stone,   miscellaneous 131,020 

Total  value $17,853,540 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION".  153 

YOLO. 

Area:  1014  square  miles. 
Popidation:  17,105  (1920  census). 

Location:  Sacramento  Valley,  bounded  by  Sutter  on  the  east  and 
Colusa  on  the  north. 

The  mineral  production  from  Yolo  County  during  the  year  1925 
consisted  entirelj^  of  miscellaneous  stone,  valued  at  $23,060,  ranking 
it  in  fifty-second  place.  Deposits  of  undetermined  value  of  iron  and 
sandstone  have  been  discovered  Avithin  the  confines  of  this  county. 
Quicksilver  has  also  been  produced. 

YUBA 
Area:  639  square  miles. 
Population:  10,375  (1920  census). 

Location:   Lies   west   of   Sierra   and   Nevada   counties;    south   of 
Plumas : 

Yuba  is  thirteenth  of  the  mineral  producing  counties  of  the  state, 
and  first  in  regard  to  gold  output  for  1925,  having  passed  Nevada  and 
Amador  counties  in  that  metal.  Iron  and  clay  deposits  have  been 
reported  in  this  county  aside  from  the  following  commercial  production 
shoA\Ti  for  the  year  1925.  The  increase  over  the  1924  figure  of  $2,190,181 
was  due  mainly  to  gold  obtained  by  the  dredgers,  which  also  yield 
silver  and  platinum.  The  1921  dredge  yield  of  gold  was  a  record  for 
the  county. 

The  1925  production  of  Yuba  County  was  distributed  as  follows : 

S^tbstancc  Value 

Gold $2,570,630 

Silver 6,400 

Stone,    miscellaneous 137,288 

Other   minerals* 7,276 


Total   value ?2, 721, 594 

♦Includes  natural  gas  and  platinum. 


154  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

APPENDIX. 


MINING  BUREAU  ACT. 

Chapter   679. 

[Stats.   1913.] 

An  act  establishing  a  state  mining  bureau,  creating  the  office  of  state  mineralogist, 
fixing  his  salary  and  prescribing  his  powers  and  duties;  providing  for  the 
employment  of  officers  and  employees  of  said  bureau,  making  it  the  duty  of 
persons  in  charge  of  mines,  mining  operations  and  quarries  to  make  certain 
reports,  providing  for  the  Investigation  of  mining  operations,  dealings  and 
transactions  and  the  prosecution  for  defrauding,  svvindling  and  cheating  therein, 
creating  a  state  mining  bureau  fund  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions 
of  this  act  and  repealing  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  mining  bureau, 
and  for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  be  known  as  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  the  direction,  man- 
agement and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment, duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform  the 
duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1893,  and  all  acts 
amendatory   thereof   and    supplemental    thereto   or    in    conflict    herewith. 

[Approved   June   16,   1913.      In   effect   August   10,   1913.] 

The  people  of  the  State  of  California  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  There  is  hereby  created  and  established  a  state  mining  bureau.  The 
chief  officer  of  such  bureau  shall  be  the  state  mineralogist,  which  office  is  hereby 
created. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor  of  the  State  of  California  and  he  is 
hereby  empowered  to  appoint  a  citizen  and  resident  of  this  state,  having  a  practical 
and  scientific  knowledge  of  mining,  to  the  office  of  state  mineralogist.  Said  state 
mineralogist  shall  hold  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  governor.  He  shall  be  a  civil 
executive  officer.  He  shall  take  and  subscribe  the  same  oath  of  office  as  other 
state  officers.  He  shall  receive  for  his  services  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars 
($300)  per  month,  to  be  paid  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
salaries  of  other  state  officers.  He  shall  also  receive  his  necessary  traveling 
expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of  his  office.  He  shall  give  bond  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  ($10,000), 
said  bond  to  be  approved  by  the  governor  of  the   State  of  California. 

Sec.  3.  Said  state  mineralogist  shall  employ  competent  geologists,  field  assist- 
ants, qualified  specialists  and  office  employees  when  necessary  in  the  execution  of  his 
plans  and  operations  of  the  bureau,  and  fix  their  compensation.  The  said  employees 
shall  be  allowed  their  necessary  traveling  expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of 
said  department  and  shall  hold  office  at  the  pleasure  of  said  state  mineralogist. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  state  mineralogist  to  make,  facilitate,  and 
encourage,  special  studies  of  the  mineral  resources  and  mineral  industries  of  the 
state.  It  shall  be  his  duty  :  to  collect  statistics  concerning  the  occurrence  and  pro- 
duction of  the  economically  important  minerals  and  the  methods  pursued  in  making 
their  valuable  constituents  available  for  commercial  use ;  to  make  a  collection  of 
typical  geological  and  mineralogical  specimens,  especially  those  of  economic  and 
commercial  importance,  such  collection  constituting  the  museum  of  the  state  mining 
bureau  ;  to  provide  a  library  of  books,  reports,  drawings,  bearing  upon  the  mineral 
industries,  and  sciences  of  mineralogy  and  geology,  and  arts  of  mining  and  metal- 
lurgy, such  library  constituting  the  library  of  the  state  mining  bui-eau  ;  to  make  a 
collection  of  models,  drawings  and  descriptions  of  the  mechanical  appliances  used 
in  mining  and  metallurgical  processes  ;  to  preserve  and  so  maintain  such  collections 
and  library  as  to  make  them  available  for  reference  and  examination,  and  open  to 
public  inspection  at  reasonable  hours  ;  to  maintain,  in  effect,  a  bureau  of  information 
concerning  the  mineral  industries  of  this  state,  to  consist  of  such  collections  and 
library,  and  to  arrange,  classify,  catalogue,  and  index  the  data  therein  contained,  in 
a  manner  to  make  the  information  available  to  those  desiring  it ;  to  issue  from  time  ^ 
to  time  such  bulletins  as  he  may  deem  advisable  concerning  the  statistics  and  tech- 
nology of  the  mineral  industries  of  this  state. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  155 

Sec.  5.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager 
or  other  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of  whatever  kind  or  character, 
within  the  state,  to  forward  to  the  state  mineralogist,  upon  his  request,  at  his  office 
not  later  than  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  in  each  year,  a  detailed  report  upon  forms 
which  Avill  be  furnished  showing  the  character  of  the  mine,  the  number  of  men 
then  employed,  the  method  of  working  such  mine  and  the  general  condition  thereof, 
the  total  mineral  production  for  the  past  year,  and  such  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent, 
manager  or  other  person  in  charge  of  any  mine  within  the  state  must  furnish 
whatever  information  relative  to  such  mine  as  the  state  mineralogist  may  from 
time  to  time  require  for  the  proper  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Any  owner, 
lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager  or  other  pei'son  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of 
whatever  kind  or  character  within  the  state,  w-ho  fails  to  comply  with  the  above 
provisions   shall  be   deemed   guilty   of   a   misdemeanor.* 

Sec.  6.  The  state  mineralogist  now  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state 
mineralogist  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state  mineralogist  as  in  this 
act  provided  until  the  appointment  and  qualification  of  his  successor  as  in  this  act 
provided. 

Sec.  7.  The  said  state  mineralogist  shall  take  possession,  charge  and  control  of 
the  offices  now  occupied  and  used  by  the  board  of  trustees  and  state  mineralogist 
and  the  museum,  library  and  laboratory  of  the  mining  bureau  located  in  San  Fran- 
cisco as  provided  for  by  a  certain  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March  23,  1893, 
and  hereafter  i-eferred  to  in  section  fourteen  hereof,  and  shall  maintain  such  offices, 
museum,  library  and  laboratory  for  the  purposes  provided  in  this  act. 

Sec.  S.  Said  state  mineralogist  or  qualified  assistant  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  at  any  time  to  enter  or  examine  any  and  all  mines,  quarries,  wells,  mills, 
reduction  works,  refining  works  and  other  mineral  properties  or  working  plants  in 
this  state  in  order  t^  gather  data  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  9.  The  state  mineralogist  shall  make  a  biennial  report  to  the  governor  on 
or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  September  next  preceding  the  regular  session  of  the 
legislature. 

Sec.  10.  All  moneys  received  by  the  state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof 
(except  such  as  may  be  paid  to  them  by  the  state  for  disbursement)  shall  be 
receipted  for  by  the  state  mineralogist  or  other  officer  authorized  by  him  to  act  ' 
in  his  place  and  at  least  once  a  month  accounted  for  by  him  to  the  state  controller 
and  paid  into  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  a  fund  which  is  hereby  created  and 
designated  "state  mining  bureau  fund."  All  moneys  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof  received  from  any  source  whatsoever, 
shall  be  immediately  paid  over  to  the  state  mineralogist  and  by  him  accounted  for 
to  the  controller  and  paid  into  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  said  fund.  Said 
fund  shall  be  used  and  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  use  of  said  bureau  in  carrying 
out  the  purposes  of  this  act. 

Sec.  11.  The  said  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
receive  on  behalf  of  this  state,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  state  mining  bureau, 
gifts,  bequests,  devises  and  legacies  of  real  or  other  property  and  to  use  the  same  in 
accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  donors,  and  if  no  instructions  are  given  by  said 
donors,  to  manage,  use.  and  dispose  of  the  gifts  and  bequests  and  legacies  for  the 
best  interests  of  said  state  mining  bureau  and  in  such  manner  as  he  may  deem 
proper. 

Sec.  12.  The  state  mineralogist  may,  whenever  he  deems  it  advisable,  prepare  a 
special  collection  of  ores  and  minerals  of  California  to  be  sent  to  or  used  at  any 
world's  fair  or  exposition  in  order  to  display  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  state. 

Sec.  13.  The  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  empowered  to  fix  a  price  upon  and  to 
dispose  of  to  the  public,  at  such  price,  any  and  all  publications  of  the  state  mining 
bureau,  including  reports,  bulletins,  maps,  registers  or  other  publications,  such  price 
shall  approximate  the  cost  of  publication  and  distribution.  Any  and  all  sums 
derived  from  such  disposition,  or  from  gifts  or  bequests  made,  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided must  be  accounted  for  by  said  state  mineralogist  and  turned  over  to  the 
state  treasurer  to  be  credited  to  the  raining  bureau  fund  as  provided  for  in  section 
ten.  He  is  also  empowered  to  furnish  without  cost  to  public  libraries  the  publica- 
tions of  the  bureau  and  to  exchange  publications  with  other  geological  surveys  and 
scientific  societies,  etc. 


*Sec.  19  of  the  Penal  Code  of  California  provides:  "Except  in  cases  where  a  differ- 
ent punishment  is  prescribed  by  this  code,  every  offense  declared  to  be  a  misde- 
meanor is  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  a  county  jail  not  exceeding  six  months,  or 
by  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by  both." 


156  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Sec.  14.  The  state  mineralogist  provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  the  successor 
in  interest  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  the  state 
mineralogist,  under  and  by  virtue  of  that  certain  act,  entitled  "An  act  to  provide 
for  the  establishment,  maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the 
state  mining  bureau,  and  for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to 
be  known  as  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  the 
direction,  management,  and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for 
the  appointment,  duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform 
the  duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1893,  and  all  books, 
papers,  documents,  personal  property,  records,  and  property  of  every  kind  and 
description  obtained  or  possessed,  or  held  or  controlled  by  the  said  board  of  trustees 
of  the  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  the  state  mineralogist,  and  the  clerks  and 
employees  thereof,  under  the  provisions  of  said  act  of  March  23.  1893,  or  any  act 
supplemental  thereto  or  amendatory  thereof,  shall  immediately  be  turned  over  and 
delivered  to  the  said  state  mineralogist  herein  provided  for,  who  shall  have  charge 
and  control  thereof. 

Sec.  15.  That  certain  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  mining  bureau,  and 
for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  be  known  as  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  pi'ovide  for  the  appointment,  duties 
and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform  the  duties  of  his  office 
under  the  control,  direction,  and  supervision  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state 
mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23.  1893.  together  with  all  acts  amendatory 
thereof  and  supplemental  thereto  and  all  acts  in  conflict  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 


STATISTICS   OF   AXXUAL   PRODUCTION.  157 

PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE 
MINING  BUREAU. 

During  the  past  forty-four  years,  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  organic  act  creating  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau,  there 
have  been  published  many  reports,  bulletins  and  maps  which  go  to  make 
up  a  library  of  detailed  information  on  the  mineral  industry  of  the 
state,  a  large  part  of  which  could  not  be  duplicated  from  any  other 
source. 

One  feature  that  has  added  to  the  popularity  of  the  publications  is 
that  man.v  of  them  have  been  distributed  without  cost  to  the  public,  and 
even  the  more  elaborate  ones  have  been  sold  at  a  price  which  barely 
covers  the  cost  of  printing. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  funds  for  the  advancing  of  the  work  of  this 
department  have  often  been  limited,  many  of  the  reports  and  bulletins 
mentioned  were  printed  in  limited  editions  which  are  now  entirely 
exhausted. 

Copies  of  such  publications  are  available,  however,  in  the  Bureau's 
offices  in  the  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco ;  New  Orpheum  Building, 
Los  Angeles;  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building,  Sacramento;  Santa 
Maria ;  Santa  Paula ;  Coalinga  ;  Taf t ;  Bakersfield.  They  may  also  be 
found  in  many  public,  private  and  technical  libraries  in  California 
and  other  states,  and  foreign  countries. 

A  catalog  of  all  publications  of  the  Bureau,  from  1880  to  1917, 
giving  a  synopsis  of  their  contents,  is  issued  as  Bulletin  No.  77. 

Publications  in  stock  may  be  obtained  by  addressing  any  of  the  offices 
of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  and  enclosing  the  recpiisite  amount  in  the 
case  of  publications  that  have  a  list  price.  The  Bureau  is  authorized 
to  receive  only  coin,  stamps  or  money  orders,  and  it  will  be  appreciated 
if  remittance  is  made  in  this  manner  rather  than  by  personal  check. 

The  prices  noted  include  delivery  charges  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  Money  orders  should  be  made  payable  to  the  State  Mining 
Bureau. 

REPORTS. 

Asterisks  (♦*)  indicate  tiie  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

♦♦First  Annual   Report  of  the   State  Mineralogist,   18S0,  43  pp.      Henry   G. 

Hanks 

♦♦Second  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  1SS2,  514  pp.,  4  illustra- 
tions, 1  map.     Henry  G.  Hanks 

♦♦Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1SS3,  111  pp.,  21  illustra- 
tions.    Henry   G.   Hanks 

♦♦Fourth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  18S4,  410  pp.,  7  illustra- 
tions.    Henry   G.   Hanks 

♦♦Fifth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  ISSo,  2.34  pp.,  15  illustra- 
tions. 1  geological  map.     Henry  G.  Hanks 

♦♦Sixth  Annual   Report  of  the   State  ^lineralogist,  Part  I,  1SS6,  145  pp.,  3 

illustrations.  1  map.     Henry  G.  Hanks 

♦♦Part  n,  ISST,  222  pp.,  30  illustrations.     ^VilliaIll  Irelan,  Jr 

♦♦Seventh  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1SS7,  315  pp.     William 

Irelan.  Jr.  

♦♦Eighth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  ISSS,  948  pp..  122  illustra- 
tions.    William   Irelan.   Jr 

♦♦Ninth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1889,  352  pp.,  57  illustra- 
tions, 2  maps.     William   Irelan,  Jr 


158  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

REPORTS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)   Indicate  tlie  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
**Teuth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1890,  983  pp.,  179  illustra- 
tions,  10  map.s.      William   Irelan,   Jr 

Eleventh   Report    (First  Biennial)    of  the   State  Mineralogist,   for   the  two 
years   ending   September  15,   1892,   612   pp.,   73   illustrations,   4   maps. 

William  Irelan,  Jr $1.00 

♦♦Twelfth  Report    (Second  Biennial)    of  the   State  JNIiueralogist,  for  the  two 
years  ending   September  10,   1894,  541   pp.,   101   illustrations,  5   maps. 

J.  J.  Crawford 

♦♦Thirteenth  Report   (Third  Biennial)  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  two 
years   ending   September   15,   1896,   726   pp.,    93   illustrations,   1   map. 

J.  J.  Crawford 

Chapters   of   the    State    Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period,    1913-1914, 

Fletcher  Hamilton  : 
**Miues  and  Mineral  Resources,  Amador,  Calaveras  and  Tuolumne  Counties, 

172   pp..    paper ^ 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Colusa,  Glenn,  Lake,  Marin,   Napa,   Solano, 

Sonoma  and  Yolo  Counties,  208  pp.,  paper ..50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources,    Del     Norte,     Humboldt,    and    Mendocino 

Counties,  59   pp.,  paper .25 

**Mines   and   Mineral    Resources,    Fresno,   Kern,   Kings,    Madera,    Mariposa, 

Merced,  San  Joaquin  and  Stanislaus  Counties,  220  pages,  paper 

Mines    and    Mineral     Resources    of    Imperial     and     San     Diego    Counties, 

113   pp.,    paper .35 

♦♦Mines    and    ^Mineral    Resources,    Shasta,    Siskiyou    and    Trinity    Counties, 

180   pp.,    paper 

Fourteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  Biennial  Period  1913- 
1914,  Fletcher  Hamilton,  1915: 
A  General  Report  on  the  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Amador,  Cala- 
veras, Tuolumne,  Colusa,  Glenn,  Lake,  iNIarin,  Napa,  Solano,  Sonoma, 
Yolo,  Del  Norte,  Humboldt,  Mendocino,  Fresno,  Kern.  Kings,  IMadera, 
Mariposa,  Merced,  San  Joaquin,  Stanislaus,  San  Diego,  .Imperial, 
Shasta,    Siskiyou,    and    Trinity    Counties,    974    pp.,    275    illustrations, 

cloth    2.00 

Chapters   of   the    State   Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period,    1915-1916, 

Fletcher  Hamilton  : 
♦♦Mines  and  Mineral   Resources,  Alpine,   Inyo  and  Mono  Counties,  176  pp.. 

paper    

♦♦Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Butte,  Lassen,  Modoc,  Sutter,  and  Tehama 

Counties,    91   pp.,   paper 

Mines  and  Mineral   Resources,   El   Dorado,  Placer,   Sacramiento,  and  Yuba 

Counties.   198  pp..   paper .65 

Mines   and   Mineral   Resources,   Monterey,   San   Benito,    San    Luis   Obispo, 

Santa  Barbara,  and  Ventura  Counties,  183  pp.,  paper .65 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Los  Angeles,  Orange,  and  Riverside  Counties. 

136    pp..    paper .50 

**Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  San  Bernardino  and  Tulare  Counties,  186  pp., 

paper    

♦♦Fifteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  Biennial  Period  1915- 
1916,  Fletcher  Hamilton.  1917: 
A  General  Report  on  the  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Alpine,  Inyo, 
Mono,  Butte,  Lassen,  Modoc.  Sutter.  Tehama,  Placer,  Sacramento, 
Yuba,  Los  Angeles,  Orange.  Riverside.  San  Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo, 
Santa  Barbara,  Ventura,  San  Bernardino  and  Tulare  Counties,  990  pp., 

413  illustrations,  cloth 

Chapters    of    the    State    Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period    1917-1918, 
Fletcher  Hamilton  : 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Nevada  County,  270  pp.,  paper .75 

Mines  and  ^Mineral  Resources  of  Plumas  County,  1S8  pp.,  paper .50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Sierra  County,  144  pp..  paper .50 

Seventeenth   Report   of   the   State   Mineralogist.    1920,    Mining   in   California 

during  1920,  Fletcher  Hamilton  ;  562  pp..  71  illustrations,  cloth 1.75 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  159 

REPORTS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
Eighteenth    Report   of   the    State   Mineralogist,    1922,    Mining   in    California, 

Fletcher  Hamilton.     Chapters  published  monthly   beginning  with   Jan- 
uary,  1922: 
**Jauuary,   **February,   March,  April,  May,  June,  July,  August,   September, 

October,  November,  December,  1922 Free 

Chapters  of  Nineteenth  Report  of  the  State  ^Mineralogist,  'Mining  in  California,' 

Fletcher   Hamilton   and   Lloj'd   L.   Root.     January,   February,   March. 

September,   1923   Free 

Chapters  of  Twentieth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  'Mininj:  in  California,' 

Lloyd  L.  Root.     Published  quarterly.     January,  April,  July,  October, 

1924,  per  copy $0.25 

Chapters    of    Twenty-first    Report    of    the    State    Mineralogist,    'Mining    in 

California,'    Lloyd   L.   Root.     Published  quarterly. 
January,  1025,  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Sacramento.  Monterey  and 

Oranse    counties .25 

April,    1925,    Mines    and    Mineral    Resources    of    Calaveras,    Merced,    San 

Joaquin,    Stanislaus   and   Ventura   counties .25 

July,  1925,  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Del  Norte,  Humboldt  and  San 

Diego   counties   .25 

October,  1925,  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Siskiyou,  San  Luis  Obispo 

and    Santa    Barbara   counties .25 

Subscription,  $1.00  in  advance  (by  calendar  year,  only). 
Chapters   of   Twenty-second   Report   of   the    State    Mineralogist,    'Mining    in 

California.'  Lloyd  L.  Root.     Published  quarterly. 
January,  192G,  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Trinity  and   Santa  Cruz 

counties     .25 

April,  1926.  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Shasta,  San  Benito  and  Impe- 
rial counties .25 

Chapters  of  State  Oil  and. Gas  Supervisor's  Report: 

Sumnuiry  of  Operations — California  Oil  Fields,  July,  1918.  to  March,  1919 

(one  volume)    Free 

Summary  of  Operations — California  Oil  Fields.     Published  monthly,  begin- 
ning April,  1919: 
♦♦April,  **May,  June.  **July.  **August,  **September,  **October,  November, 

♦♦December,  1919 Free 

January.  February,  March.  April.  ♦♦May.  June.  July,  ♦♦August,  September, 

October.   November,  December,  1920 Free 

January.    ♦♦February,    ♦♦March,    ♦♦April,    May,    June,    ♦♦July,    August, 

♦♦September,  ♦♦October,  ♦♦November,  ♦♦December,  1921 Free 

January,    February.    March.    April,   May.   June,   July,    August,    September, 

October,   November,   December,  1922 Free 

January,   February.   March.   April.   May.   June.   July,   August,    September. 

October.  November,  December.  192.3 Free 

January.   February,   March,   April,    May,   June,   July,   August,    September, 

October,    November.   December,    1924 Free 

January.    February.    March.    April,    May.    June,    July,    August,    September, 

October.  November,  December,  1925 Free 

January.  February.  SLarch,   April.   May,   .Tune.   July,  1926 Free 

BULLETINS. 
Asterisks    (••)    Indicate   the   publication   Is  out  of   print. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  1.     .\   Description   of   Some   Desiccated   Human   Remains,   by 

AVinslow  Anderson.     IS'^S.  41   pp..  6  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  2.     Methods   of   Mine   Timbering,    by    W.    H.    Storms.      1894, 

58  pp.,  75  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  3.     Gas  and  Petroleum  Yielding  Formations  of  Central  Valley 

of  California,  by  W.  L.  Watts.     1894.  100  pj).,  13  illustrations.  4  maps_     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  4.  Catalogue  of  Californian  Fossils,  by  J.  G.  Cooper.  1894. 
73  pp.,  67  illustrations.  (Part  I  was  published  in  the  Seventh  Annual 
Renort  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1887.) 


160  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

BULLETINS— Continued. 
Asterisks  (•*)  indicate  the  publication  Is  out  of  print. 

Price 
♦♦Bulletin  No.  5.     The  Cyanide  Process,  1S94,  by  Dr,  A.  Scheidel.     140  pp., 

4()  illustrations 

Bulletin  No.  G.     California   Gold  Mill   Practices,   1895,   by   E.  B.   Preston, 

85  pp.,  46  illustrations $0.50 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  7.     JNlineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties    for    tlTe 

year  1894,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  S.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties    for    the 

year  3895,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   9.     Mine   Drainage,   Pumps,   etc.,   by   Hans   C.   Behr.     189G. 

210  pp.,  20G  illustrations 

**Bulletin  No.  10.     A  bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology,  Palaeontology  and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California,  by  Anthony  W.  Vogdes.     1S9G,  121  pp.     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  11.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  Los  Angeles,  Ventura 

and  Santa  Barbara  counties,  by  W.  L.  Watts.     1897,  94  pp.,  6  maps, 

31    illustrations   

♦♦Bulletin  No.  12.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1896, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  13.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1897, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  14.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1898, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   15.      Map   of   Oil   City   Fields,   Fresno  County,   by   John   H. 

Means.     1899   

♦♦Bulletin  No.  IG.     The  Genesis  of  Petroleum  and  Asphaltum  in  California, 

by  A.  S.  Cooper.     1899,  39  pp..  29  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  17.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1899, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   18.     Mother  Lode  Region   of  California,   by   W.   H.   Storms. 

1900,  154  pp.,  49   illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  19.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  California,  by  W.  L. 

Watts.     1900,  23G  pp.,  60  illustrations,  8  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  20.     Synopsis  of  General  Report  of  State  Mining  Bureau,  by 

W.  L.  Watts.     1901,  21  pp.     This  bulletin  contains  a  brief  statement 

of  the  progress  of  the  mineral  industry  in  California  for  the  four  years 

ending  December,  1899 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  21.     Mineral  Production  of  California  by  Counties,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     1900.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  22.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Fourteen  Years,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     1900.    Tabulated  sheet 

Bulletin   No.  23.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California,  by  P.   C.  DuBois, 

F.  M.  Anderson,  J.  H.  Tibbits  and  G.  A.  TVeedy.     1902,  282  pp.,  69 
illustrations,  and  9  maps .50 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  24.    The  Saline  Deposits  of  California,  by  G.  E.  Bailey.     1902, 

216  pp.,  99  illustrations,  5  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  25.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1901, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   26.      Mineral   Production  of  California  for  the  past  Fifteen 

Years,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1902.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.    27.     The    Quicksilver   Resources   of   California,    by   William 

Forstner.     1903,  273  pp.,  144  illustrations,  8  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  28.     Mineral  Production  of  California,   for  1902,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  29.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Sixteen  Years,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     1003.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  30.     Bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology,  Palaeontology,  and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California,  by  A.  W.  Vogdes.    1903,  290  pp __i_ 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  31.     Chemical   Analyses   of  California  Petroleum,   by   H.   N. 

Cooper.     1904.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  32.     Production  and  Use  of  Petroleum  in  California,  by  Paul 

W.  Prutzman.     1904,  230  pp.,  116  illustrations,  14  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  33.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1903, 

bv   Charles   G.   Yale.     Tabulated   sheet 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  161 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (••)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
♦♦Bulletin   No.  34.     Mineral   Production  of  California   for   Seventeen   Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1904.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  35.     Mines  and   Minerals  of  California,  by  Charles  G.  Yale. 

1904,  55  pp.,  20  county  maps.     Relief  map  of  California 

♦*Bulletin  No.  36.     Gold  Dredjin-  in  California,  by  J.  E.  Doolittle.     1905, 

120  pp..  <56  illustrations.  3  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  37.     Gems,   Jewelers'   Materials,   and  Ornamental   Stones  of 

California,  by  George  F.  Kunz.     1905.  1G8  pp.,  54  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   3S.      Structural   and    Industrial    Materials   of   California,   by 

Wm.  Forstner.  T.  C.  Hopkins.  C.  Naramore  and  L.  H.  Eddy.     190t>, 

412  pp.,  150  illustrations,  1  map 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  39.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1904, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   40.      Mineral   Pi-oduction   of   California   for   Eighteen   Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1905.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  41.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  for  1904,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     1905.  54  pp..  20  county  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  42.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1905,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  43.      Mineral    Production   of  California   for   Nineteen   Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Y'ale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  44.     California  Mines  and  Minerals  for  1905,  by  Charles  G. 

Yale.     1907,  31  pp..  20  county  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  45.     Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  California,  by  J.  A.  Edman. 

1907.     10  pp 

Bulletin  No.   46.     General   Index   of  Publications  of  the   California    State 

Mining  Bureau,  by  Charles  G.  Y^ale.     1907,  54  pp $0.30 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   47.      Mineral    Production   of   California,    by    Counties,   1906, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   4S.      Mineral    Production    of   California    for   Twenty   Years. 

1906,  by  Charles  G.  Yale 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  49.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1906,  by  Charles 

G.   Yale.     34   pp 

Bulletin  No.  50.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California,  1908.  by  A.  Haus- 

mann,  J.  Kruttschnitt.  Jr..  W.  E.  Thorne  and  J.  A.  Edman,  366  pp., 

74  illustrations.      (Revised  edition.) 1.00 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  51.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1907,  by 

D.  H.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  52.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-one  Years, 

1907,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  53.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  1907,  with  County 

Maps,  by  D.  H.  Walker,  62  pp 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  54.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  by  D.  H. 

Walker.  190S.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  55.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  TSventy-two  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  190S.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.    56.      Mineral   Production   for  190S.   with   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws  of  California,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     78  pp 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   57.     Gold   Dredging   in   California,   by   W.   B.   Winston   and 

Chas.  Janin.    1910,  312  pp..  239  illustrations  and  10  maps 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  58.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  bv  Counties,  by  D.  H. 

Walker,  1909.     Tabulated  sheet 1 ___'_ 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  59.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-three  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker.  1909.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  60.     Mineral  Production  for  1909,  County  Mans  and  Mining 

Laws  of  California,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     94  pp 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  61.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1910. 

by  D.  H.  Walker.    Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  62.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-four  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  1910.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  63.     Petroleum  in  Southern   California,  by  P.  W.  Prutzman. 

1912.  430  pp.,  41  illustrations,  6  maps 

11 — 47818 


162  MIXERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

BULLETINS— Continued. 
Asterisks  (••)  Indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  64.     Mineral  Production  for  1911.  by  E.  S.  Boaiich.     49  pp.__     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  (io.     Mineral  Production  for  1912.  by  E.  S.  Boaiich.      &4  pp.__     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  GG.     Mining  Laws  of  the  United  States  and  California.     1914, 

89  pp.  _ 

♦♦Bulletin    No.    GT.      Minerals   of   California,    by    Arthur    S.    Eakle.      1914, 

22G    pp.    

♦♦Bulletin   No.   68.      Mineral    Production   for  1913,   with   County    Maps   and 

Mining  Laws,  by  E.  S.  Boaiich.     160  pp 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   69.     Petroleum   Industry  of  California,   with   Folio  of  Maps 
(18  by  22),  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin  and  C.  A.  Waring.     1914,  519  pp., 

13  illustrations,  S3  figs.     [IS  plates  in  accompanying  folio.] 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   70.     Mineral    Production    for   1914,   with   County   Maps  and 

Mining   Laws.     184   pp 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   71.     Mineral   Production   for   1915,   with   County    Maps   and 

Mining  Laws,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     193  pp.,  4  illustrations 

Bulletin   No.  72.     The  Geologic  Formations  of  California,  by  James  Perrin 

Smith.      1916,    47    pp $0.25 

Reconnaissance  Geologic  Map   (of  which.  Bulletin  72  is  explanatory), 

in  23  colors.     Scale :  1  inch  equals  12  miles.     Mounted 2.50 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  73.     First  Annual   Report  of  the   State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor of  California,  for  the  fiscal  year  1915-16,  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin.  g 

278  pp.,  26  illustrations ■ 

Bulletin  No.  74.     Mineral  Production  of  California  in  1916,  with  County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     179  pp.,  12  illustrations Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  75.     United  States  and  California  Mining  Laws,  1917.    115  pp., 

paper 

Bulletin  No.  76.     Manganese  and  Chromium  in  California,  by  Walter  W. 
Bradley,    Emile   Huguenin,    C.   A.    Logan,    W.   B.   Tucker   and    C.    A. 

Waring,  1918.    248  pp.,  51  illustrations,  5  maps,  paper .50 

Bulletin    No.    77.     Catalogue   of   Publications   of   California   State   Mining 

Bureau.  1880-1917,  by  E.  S.  Boaiich.     44  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin   No.  78.     Quicksilver   Resources  of  California,  with  a   Section  on 
Metallurgy  and  Ore-Dressing,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1918.     389  pp., 

77  photographs  and  42  plates   (colored  and  line  cuts),  cloth 1.50 

Bulletin  No.  79.     Magnesite   in    California,   by   Walter  W.   Bradley,   1925, 

147  pp.,  62  photographs,  11  line  cuts  and   maps,  cloth 1.00 

Bulletin    No.    SO.     Tungsten,    Molybdenum    and    Vanadium    in    California. 

CIn   preparation.)    

Bulletin  No.  SI.     Foothill  Copper  Belt  of  California.     (In  preparation.) —     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  82.     Second  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor, for  the  fiscal  year  1916-1917,  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin,  1918.    412  pp., 

31   illustrations,   cloth 

Bulletin    No.   S3.     California   Mineral   Production    for  1917,   with  Cotinty 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     179  pp.,  paper Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  84.     Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Saper- 
visor,    for    the    fiscal    year    1917-1918,    by    R.    P.    McLaughlin,    1918. 

617  pp.,  28  illustrations,  cloth 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  85.    Platinum  and  Allied  Metals  in  California,  by  C.  A.  Logan, 

1919.     10  photographs,  4  plates,  120  pp.,  paper 

Bulletin    No.   S6.     California   Mineral    Production    for  1918,   with    County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1919.     212  pp.,  paper Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  87.     Commercial  Minerals  of  California,  with  notes  on  their 
uses,    distribution,    properties,    ores,    field    tests,    and    preparation    for 

market,  by  W.  O.  Castello.  1920.     124  pp.,  paper 

Bulletin    No.   88.     California   Mineral   Production    for  1919,   with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1920.     204  pp.,  paper Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  89.    Petroleum  Resources  of  California,  with  Special  Reference 
to   Unproved   Areas,   by   Lawrence  Vander  Leek,   1921.     12  figures,  6 

photographs,  6  maps  in  pocket,  186  pp.,  cloth 

Bulletin    No.   90.     California   Mineral    Production   for  1920,   with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1921.     218  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  91.     Minerals  of  California,  by  Arthur  S,  Eakle,  1923,  328  pp., 

cloth 1.00 


I 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  163 

BULLETINS— Continued. 
Asterisks   (*•)    Indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print.  Price 

Bulletin  No.  92.  Gold  Placers  of  California,  by  Chas.  S.  Haley.  1923.  167 
pp.,  36  photographs  and  7  plates   (colored  and  line  cuts,  also  geologic 

map),   cloth   $1.50 

Extra  copies  of  the  Geologic  Map    (in  4   colors) .50 

Bulletin   No.  93.     California  Mineral  Production  for  1922,   by   Walter  W. 

Bradley,  1923,  188  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin   No.  94.     California  Mineral  Production  for  1923,  by  Walter  W. 

Bradley,    1924,    162    pp.,    paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  95.  Geology  and  Ore  Deposits  of  the  Randsburg  Quadrangle, 
by  Carlton  D.  Hulin,  192.").  152  pp.,  49  photographs,  13  line  cuts, 
1    colored    geologic   map,    cloth 2.(X) 

Bulletin   No.  96.     California   Mineral  Production  for  1924,   by  Walter  W. 

Bradley,  1925.     173  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  97,   California  Mineral  Production  for  1925,   by  Walter  W. 

Bradley,  1926,  172  pp.,  paper Free 

PRELIMINARY   REPORTS. 

Asterisks    (**)   indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 
♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  1.     Notes  on  Damage  by  Water  in  California  Oil 

Fields,  December,  1913.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin.     4  pp 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  2.     Notes  on  Damage  by  Water  in  California  Oil 

Fields,  March,  1914.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin.     4  pp 

Preliminary   Report  No.  3.     Manganese  and   Chromium,   1917.     By   E.   S. 

Boalich.     32  pp Free 

Pr'^liminary    Report    No.   4.     Tungsten,    Molybdenum   and    Vanadium.     By 

E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  0.  Castello.  191S.     34  pp.     Paper Free 

Preliminary  Report  No.  5.     Antimony.  Graphite.  Nickel.  Potash,  Strontium 

and  Tin.    By  E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello,  1918.    44  pp.     Paper__     Free 
♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  6.     A  Review  of  Mining  in  California  During  1919. 

Fletcher  Hamilton,  1920.     43  pp.     Paper 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  7.  The  Clay  Industry  in  California.  By  E.  S. 
Boalich,  W.  O.  Castello,  E.  Huguenin,  C.  A.  Logan,  and  W.  B.  Tucker, 

1920.  102  pp.     24  illustrations.     Paper 

♦♦Preliminary    Report    No.    8.     A    Review    of    Mining    in    California    During 

1921,  with   Notes  on  the  Outlook  for  1922.     Fletcher  Hamilton,  1922. 

68  pp.     Paper 

MISCELLANEOUS    PUBLICATIONS. 

Asterisks  (**)   indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

♦♦First  Annual  Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  during  the  year  ending  April  16, 
1881.     3.50   pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  books,  maps,  lithographs,  photographs,  etc.,  in  the  library  of 

the  State  Mining  Bureau  at  San  Francisco.  May  15,  1884.     19  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  Volume  II.  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  April  16,  1881,  to  May  5, 
1884.     220   pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California.  Volume  III,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  May  15,  18S4,  to  March  31. 
1SS7.      195   pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California.  Volume  IV,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  March  30,  1887,  to  August 
20,    1890.      261    pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau,  September 
1,  1892.     149  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  West  North  American  and  Many  Foreign  Shells  with  Their 
Geographical  Ranges,  by  J.  G.  Cooper.  Printed  for  the  State  Mining 
Bureau,  April.  1894 

♦♦Report  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  four  years  ending  September,  1900. 

15    pp.      Paper 

Bulletin.      Reconnaissance   of    the   Colorado   Desert    Mining    District.      By 

Slei)iion  Bowers,  1901.     19  pp.     2  illustrations.     Paper Free 

Commercial    Mineral    Notes.      A    monthly    mimeographed    sheet,    beginning 

April,  1923 Free 


164 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


•♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Klines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

INIines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

♦♦Register 

of 

Mines, 

Register 

of 

Mines. 

Register 

of 

Oil  W 

MAPS. 

Registers  of   Mines  With    Maps. 

Asterisks  (••)  Indicate  out  of  print. 

Price 

with  JNIap,  Amador  County 

with  Map,  Butte  County 

with  Map,  Calaveras  County 

with  Map.  El    Dorado    County 

with  Map,  Inyo  County   

with  Map,  Kei-n    County    

with  Map,  Lake  County 

with  Mac  Mariposa  County 

with  Map,  Nevada  County 

,  with  INIap,  Placer  County 

with  Map,  Plumas    County    

with  Map,  San   Bernardino   County A 

with  Map,  San  Diego  County | 

with  Map,   Santa  Barbara  County $0.25      ' 

with  Map,  Shasta  County 

with  Map,  Sierra    County    

with  Map,  Siskiyou   County  

with  Map,  Trinity    County    

with  Map,  Tuolumne   County   

with  Map,  Yuba    County    .25 

ells,  with  Map,  Los  Angeles  City .35 


OTHER    MAPS. 

Asterisks  (**)   indicate  the  publication  Is  out  of  print. 

♦♦Map  of  California,  Showing  Mineral  Deposits   (50x60  in.) — - 
Map  of  Forest  Reserves  in  California — 

Mounted     .50 

**  Unmounted     

♦♦Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California 

♦♦Map  of  El  Dorado  County,   Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Madera  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Placer   County,    Showing  Boundaries,   National   Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Shasta  County,   Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Sierra  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Siskiyou  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Tuolumne   County,    Showing  Boundaries,   National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Mother   Lode    Region 

♦♦Map  of  Desert   Region   of   Southern   California 

Map  of  Minaret   District,   Madera   County .20 

Map  of  Copper  Deposits  in  California .05 

♦♦Map  of  Calaveras  County   

♦♦Map  of  Plumas  County 

♦♦Map  of  Trinity   County   

♦♦Map  of  Tuolumne  County 

Geological  ]\Lap  of  Inyo  County.     Scale  1  inch  equals  4  miles .60 

Map  of  California  accompanying  Bulletin  No.  89,  showing  generalized  classi- 
fication  of   land  with   regard   to  oil   possibilities.     Map   only,   without 

Bulletin    .25 

Geological  Map  of  California,  1916.  Scale  1  inch  equals  12  miles.  As 
accurate  and  up-to-date  as  available  data  will  permit  as  regards  topog- 
raphy and  geography.  Shows  railroads,  highways,  post  offices  and  other 
towns.  First  geological  map  that  has  been  available  since  1S92,  and 
shows  geology  of  entire  state  as  no  other  map  does.     Geological  details 

lithographed  in  2.3  colors.     Mounted 2.50 

Topographic   Map   of    Sierra    Nevada   Gold   Belt,    showing   distribution    of 

auriferous  gravels.     In  4  colors .50 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  165 

OIL    FIELD    MAPS. 

Price 
These    maps    are    revised    from    time    to    time    as    development    work 
advances  and  ownerships  change. 

Map  No.     1— Sargent,   Santa  Clara  County $0.50 

Map  No.     2 — Santa  Maria,  including  Cat  Canyon  and  Los  Alamos .75 

Map  No.     3 — Santa  Maria,  including  Casmalia  and  Lompoc .75 

Map  No.     4 — Whittier-Fullerton.    including    Olinda,    Brea    Canyon,    Puente 

Hills,  East  Coyote  and  Richfield .75 

Map  No.     5 — Whittier-Fullerton,     including     Whittier,     West     Coyote,     and 

Montebello .75 

Map  No.     6 — Salt  Lake,  Los  Angeles  County .75 

Map  No.     7 — Sunset  and  San  Emido  and  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.     S — South  Midway  and  Buena  Vista  Hills,  Kern  County : .75 

Map  No.     9 — North  Midway  and  McKittrick,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.   10 — Belridge  and  McKittrick,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  11 — Lost  Hills  and  North  Belridge,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  12 — Devils   Den,   Kern   County .75 

Map  No.  13 — Kern  River,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  14 — Coalinga,  Fresno   County 1.00 

Map  No.  15 — Elk  Hills,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  16 — Ventura-Ojai,  Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  17 — Santa  Paula-Sespe  Oil  Fields,  Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  IS— Piru-Simi-Newhall   Oil   Fields .75 

Map  No.  19 — Arroyo  Grande,  San  Luis  Obispo  County .75 

Map  No.  20— Long  Beach   Oil    Field 1.00 

Map  No.  21 — Portion  of  District  4,  Showing  Boundaries  of  Oil  Fields,  Kern 

and  Kings  counties .75 

Map  No.  22 — Portion    of    District    3,    Showing    Oil    Fields,    Santa    Barbara 

County   .75 

Map  No.  23 — Portion    of    District    2,    Showing    Boundaries    of    Oil    Fields, 

Ventura  County ,75 

Map  No.  24— Portion  of  District  1,   Showing  Boundaries  of  Oil  Fields,  Los 

Angeles  and  Orange  counties .75 

Map  No.  26— Huntington  Beach  Oil  Field ,75 

Map  No.  27— Santa  Fe  Springs  Oil  Field ,75 

Map  No.  2S — Torrance,  Los  Angeles  County .75 

Map  No.  29 — Dominguez,    Los    Angeles    County 1.00 

Map  No.  30 — Rosecrans,   Los  Angeles  County .75 

Map  No.  31 — Inglewood,  Los  Angeles  County .75 

DETERMINATION    OF    MINERAL    SAMPLES. 

Samples  (limited  to  three  at  one  time)  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  state  may  be 
sent  to  the  Bureau  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classified  free  of  charge. 
No  samples  will  be  determined  if  received  from  points  outside  the  state.  It  must  be 
understood  that  no  assays,  or  quantitative  determinations  will  be  made.  Samples 
should  be  in  lump  form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  with  name  of  sender  on 
outside  of  package,  etc.  No  samples  will  be  received  unless  delivery  charges  are 
prepaid.  A  letter  should  accompany  sample,  giving  locality  where  mineral  was  found 
and  the  nature  of  the  information  desired. 


INDEX. 


Page 

Alameda  County 129 

Alpine  County 129 

Aluminum     36 

Amador  County 129 

Amblygonite     HI 

American  Bureau  of  Metal  Statistics,  Chart 36 

American  Petroleum  Institute,  cited 21 

Andalusite    115 

Antimony    36 

native    37 

total   production   37 

Appendix    154 

Aquamarine   101 

Architectural  terra  cotta 96 

Arrowhead  Hot  Springs,  radioactivity  at 110 

Arsenic 37 

Art   pottery    96 

Asbestos    91 

San  Benito  Asbestos   Co 91 

prices,    Canadian   asbestos 92 

Asphalt   93 

Bancroft,   H.   H.,   cited 4.S 

Barytes 93 

total  production 94 

Ballast     88 

Bauxite   36 

Benitoite    100,   101 

Bentonite    100 

Beryl     38,   101 

Beryllium    38 

Bismuth    38 

Bisque  ware 96 

Bituminous  rock 63 

total   production   64 

Borates   120 

production,  1864-1925 122 

Bowles,    O.,    cited 82 

Bradley,  W.  W.,  cited 25 

Brown,  C.  C,  cited 17 

J.  R.,  cited 42 

Brick    64-67 

production  of  various  kinds 65 

total    production.    1893-1925 67 

Building  stone.     (See  Granite,  Marble,  Sandstone,  etc.) 

Bulletins,  list  of 159 

Bush,  R.  D.,  cited 21,   27 

Butte    County    130 

Cadmium     39 

Calaveras  County 130 

Cement    Co.    68 

Calcium  chloride 122 

u.«:e  on  roads 123 

California,    area    of 128 

map  of,  showing  approxirr'ate  location  of  oil  fields 27 

Zinc  Co. 61 

Californite    101 

Casing-head  gas 19 

Celestite 96 

Cement     67,   96 

total   production    68 

Champion    Porcelain    Co 115 

Chart,  California,  showing  location  of  oil  fields  and  districts 27 

mineral  production,  annual  value  and  increase 14 

natural   gas,   casing-head   18 

production  and  utilization 18 

non-ferrous  metals,   current  trend  of  world  production 36 

prices,    asbestos,    Canadian 92 

copper,   electrolytic   40 

lead,  common 48 

silver,  bar,  bullion 56 

zinc,  slab 60 

Chemical  stoneware , 96 

Chimney   pipe    96 

Chinaware    96 

Chipman  Chemical  Co.,  cited 37 


168  INDEX, 

Page 

Chromite  68 

concentration  of 69 

imports   of    69 

occurrence    of    69 

total   production    70 

Chrysoprase 102 

Clay — pottery    94 

production,   1887-1925   96 

products    96 

uses  of,  other  than  for  pottery 94 

Coal    15 

gas    from    15 

total    production    of 16 

Cobalt    39 

Colemanite   121 

Collom.    R.    E.,    cited 25 

Colusa  County 131 

Concentrating  Plant  California  Zinc  Co 61 

Concentration  of  chromite 69 

Concrete    88 

Conduit   96 

Contra    Costa    County 131 

Copper     40 

chart,  trend  of  world  production 35 

electrolytic    copper   prices 40 

production,   1882-1925    42 

stocks  of,   in  United  States 42 

United   States  production   of 41 

'Cornish'   or   'Cornwall'   stone 95 

Cost   data  on   oil   operations 32 

Counties,  mineral  production  of 128 

Crushed   rock    62,   86 

Cryolite     36 

Cyanite    115 

Curbing 72 

Del    Norte   County 131 

Diamonds    101 

Diatomaceous    earth    105 

Dividends  by  oil  companies 31 

Dolomite    96 

total   production    97 

Dolomitic  marble   88 

Don  Manuel  Castanares,  cited 45 

Drain  tile 96 

Dredge  production  of  platinum 51 

Dredging,    gold    44 

Dumortierite    115 

El  Dorado  County 132 

roofing  of  slate  on  residence 82 

Electric  smelting  of  ferro  alloys 47 

Eng.   and  Min.   Jour.-Press,   cited 40,    56,    60,  100 

Faience  tile   96 

Feldspar    97 

total   production    98 

Ferberite 59 

Ferguson    blocks    65 

Ferro-chrome  by   electric   furnace 47 

Ferro-manganese    47 

by  electric  furnace 47 

Ferro-tungsten    59 

Filter  sand 86 

Fire  brick 65 

clay    96 

Flue  linings 96 

Fluorspar    98 

Fresno   County    132 

Fuels    15-33 

Fuller's    earth    99 

total   production    100 

Garnets 101 

Gas   (See  Natural  Gas) 

Gasoline  from   natural   gas 19 

Gavin,    M.    J.,    cited 113 

Gems    100 

total   production    102 

varieties    101 

Geysers,  California,  radioactivity  at 110 

Glass  sand 114 

Glenn    County    133 

Gold    43 

production   by  counties,    1925 44 

total    production     46 

Goodyear,  W.  A.,  cited 16 


INDEX.  169 

PAGn 
Gould,    H.,    cited 54 

Granite    70 

production,    1887-1925    73 

Roclv  Co.   plant 85 

varieties  of,  in  California 71 

Granules  for  roofing:  and  stucco 88 

Graphite    102 

total   production    103 

Gravel   85 

Greenstone  granules  88 

Grinding  mill  pebbles 84 

Gypsum 103 

deposit,  Pacific  Portland  Cement  Co 104 

total   production   105 

uses    105 

Hanks,   Henry,   cited 23 

High-speed  steels 59 

Hill,  J.  M.,  cited 44,   52,   56,   74 

Hittell,  T.  H.,  cited 45 

Hollow  building  tile  or  blocks ^ 64 

Hiibernite   58 

Humboldt  County II_III__II_I  133 

Hyacinth 101 

Hydrargillite    Z  35 

Hydrocarbons    15 

Imperial  County 134 

Industrial    materials    90-119 

Infusorial   earth    105 

total    production    106 

Inyo  County 134 

Iridium    51 

Iron  ore 34,   47 

electric   smelting   of 47 

total   production    47 

Jade 101 

Jasper    101 

roofing  granules   88 

Jewelers'  materials  (See  Gems) 

Kaolin   95 

Kern  County 17,   135 

Kieselguhr    106 

Kings   County    135 

Kunzite     101 

Lake  County 136 

Lassen  County 136 

Lassen   Peak   148 

Lawver,  A.  M.,  cited 57 

Lead    47 

chart,    prices,    common 48 

trend   of   world   production 35 

production,  1SS7-1925 49 

Lepidolite 108 

Lime    73 

production,   1894-1925   74 

Limestone   107 

dust    88 

production.   1894-1925 107 

Lithia     108 

Lorenz   Hydraulic   Mine 43 

Los   Angeles   County 136 

Macadam    88 

Madera  County 137 

Magnesite    74 

duty  on   78 

imports    of    77 

occurrence  of 75 

producing  districts 75 

production.    1887-1925    78 

uses    of    75 

values    of    77 

Magnesium  salts 124 

Manganese    49 

imports  of,  from  Brazil 49 

total  production 49-50 

Map,  outline  of  California  showing  oil  fields 27 

Marble 79 

production,    1887-1925    79 

Marin   County   137 

Mariposa  County   138 

Mariposite     88 

Mashaw  &   Swanson,   cited 20 

12—47818 


170  INDEX. 

Masser,  H.  L.,  cited 17 

Melhase.   John,   cited 100 

Mendocino  County   138 

Mercantile   Trust  Review,   cited 45,    68 

Merced  County   138 

Metals    34-61 

Mica     108 

Mineral    industry,    review  of 11 

graph  showing  annual  value  and  increase 14 

output   by   counties 13,    128-153 

by  substances 12 

output,  comparative  value,  1924-1925 13 

paint     109 

production  of,  California,  totals  by  years,  since  1887 14 

water . 110 

effect  of  prohibition  on 110 

production,    1S87-1925    111 

Minerals,  total  production  of,  by  years 14 

variety   of,   produced   in   California 11 

Mining  Bureau   Act 154 

Miscellaneous  stone 83 

production,    1893-1925    89 

Modoc    County    139 

Molding  sand 86 

Molybdenum     50 

Mono  County 139 

Monterey   County    139 

Montmorillonite : 100 

Monumental    stone    72 

Morganite   101 

Napa  County 140 

Natural  gas 15,   16 

chart,    production   and   utilization 18 

production  casing-head  gas 18 

gasoline    from    19 

production,    1888-1925    18,   19 

Nevada  County 141 

Nickel     51 

Nitrates     124 

Nitrogen,   atmospheric,    fixation    of 124 

Oil   (See  Petroleum) 

fields,  chart  of  approximate  location  of 27 

lands,  proved  33 

shale     113 

Onyx    79 

Orange   County   141 

Osmiridium    51 

Oxychloride  cement   78 

Pacific  Gas  &  Electric  Co.,  cited 15 

Palladium 51 

Paving   blocks    84 

Peat   15 

Pebbles   for    grinding   mills 84 

P.  &  H.  gasoline  steam  shovel 84 

Petroleum ^^~oo 

average   price    by   counties,    1916-1925 22 

capitalization 30 

dividends   from    31 

drilling  and  development 21 

features  of,  1925 21 

financial    tables    30-32 

map  of  California,  approximate  location  of  oil  fields 27 

operating  co.sts  by  fields 32 

outlook  for  1926 21 

prices  by  fields 32 

production,   1875-1925 24 

production  and  value  by  counties 22 

production   by   fields   25,   28 

production  of  light  and  heavy  gravities 25 

production   statistics,    1925 22,    25,    28 

proved  oil  land 33 

statistics  of  well   operations 24 

storage  of 26 

and  price  changes 21 

yield  per  day  of  wells 24,   28,   32 

Phosphates 111 

Pierce  gravel  gold  washing  machine 45 

Plaster  and  brick  sand 86 

Plaster   mill    ■ 104 

Platinum     51 

consumption   of,    by   industries 52 

from   blister  copper 52 

production     of,     1887-1925 53 

stocks     53 

uses,  markets  and  consumption 52 


INDEX.  171 

Page 

Plumas    County    142 

Porcelain    96,  115 

Portland  Cement  Co.,  Imperial  Co 104 

new    cement    plant 68 

Potash   125 

total    production    of 125 

Pottery  clays 94 

Proved  oil  land 33 

Publications  of  State  Mining  Bureau 157 

Pumice     111 

Pyrites     112 

total   production    112 

Quartz   101 

crystals    101 

Quicksilver 53 

imports    of    54 

production,   1850-1925   55 

production  of,  in  United  States 54 

prices 53 

uses    of    54 

Radioactivity  of  hot  springs 110 

Red   earthenware    96 

roofing  granules   88 

Reed.   A.   H.,   cited 98 

Rhodonite   101 

Riprap    88 

Riverside   County 142 

Roofing    granules    88 

sand    86 

slate 82 

tile    96 

Rubble 88 

Rubies   102 

Ruthenium    51 

Railroad   Comm.,   cited 17 

Sacramento  County 143 

Salines ' 120-127 

'Salt    cake'    127 

Salt     126 

production.    1887-1925    126 

San  Benito  Asbestos  Co 91 

San    Benito    County 143 

San  Bernardino  County 144 

San   Diego   County 144 

San  Francisco  Bulletin,  cited 23 

San    Francisco    County 145 

San    .Toaquin    County 145 

San   Luis   Obispo   County 146 

San    Mateo    County 146 

Sand    and    gravel 85 

Sandstone   80 

production,    1887-1925    80 

Sanitary  ware 96 

Santa  Barbara  County 146 

Santa  Clara  County 147 

Santa   Cruz   County 147 

Portland  Cement  Co 66 

Sapphires    102 

Scheelite    58 

Semi-vitreous    tableware    96 

Serpentine     81 

Sewer  pipe   96 

Shale  oil    113 

Shasta    County    148 

Sierra  County 148 

Silica    114 

total   production    115 

Sillimanite    115 

Silver ■ 55 

chart,  prices,   bar  silver Sb 

production  by  counties 56 

production.   1880-1925    57 

Siskivou  County 1*9 

g]3^p       81 

production,   1889-1925 ^3 

roofing   on   residence °- 

Soapstone    116 

total    production    117 

uses    11" 

Soda 127 

total    production    ;J-' 

Solano  County 149 

Sonoma  County     149 

Specific  gravities  of  oil  produced 25 

Spelter   (See  Zinc) 


172  INDEX. 

Spessartite    101 

Standard  Oil  Bulletin,   cited 26 

Company,    cited    __, 25 

Stanislaus   County   , 150 

State  Mineralogist  Report,  cited 17,  21,  23,  25,   26,   55 

list    of    157-159 

Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  cited 17,  20,  21,  25,  26 

Steatite    IIU 

Stocks  of  copper  in  United  States 42 

platinum    in    United    States 52 

Stone,   miscellaneous   83—89 

production  by  counties 88 

production    by   years 89 

Stoneware 96 

Strontium    118 

Structural   materials   62—89 

Stucco   dash,    granules    for 86,   88 

Sulphur 118 

Sutter  County   150 

Talc    116 

uses    116 

Tehama   County    151 

Terra  cotta 96 

Tile 96 

Tin   57 

Topaz     , 101 

Torbanite    113 

Tourmaline    38,    101 

Trans.  Amer.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  cited 38 

Travertine    79 

Trinity   County   151 

Tube    mill    pebbles 84 

Tuff,  used  for  building  stone 70,   72 

Tulare    County    151 

Tungsten 58 

total   production    59 

Tuolumne  County 152 

Turquoise    102 

United  States  Bureau  of  Mines,  cited 20,  41,  44,  52,  54,  56,  74,  82,  92,  113 

Dept.  of  Agriculture,   cited 110 

Geological  Survey,  cited 24,  42,  47,  55,  78,  102,  110 

Tariff  Comm.,  cited 76 

Vanadium 60 

Ventura   County   152 

Volcanic   ash    111 

cinders     86 

Water  glass 114 

Witherite    94 

Wolframite 58 

Yolo  County 153 

Yuba  County 153 

Zinc    60 

California  Zinc   Co 61 

chart,   prices   slab   zinc 60 

trend  of  world  production 35 

total  production   61 


47818     12-26     3150 


THE  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

CORDIALLY   INVITES  YOU   TO  VISIT 

ITS  VARIOUS  DEPARTMENTS  MAINTAINED 

FOR  THE   PURPOSE  OF   FURTHERING 

THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE 

MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  CALI- 
FORNIA 

At  the  service  of  the  public  are  the  scientific 
reference  library  and  reading  room,  the  general 
information  bureau,  the  laboratory  for  the  free 
determination  of  mineral  samples  found  in  the 
state,  and  the  largest  museum  of  mineral  speci- 
mens on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  time  and  atten- 
tion of  the  State  Mineralogist,  as  well  as  of 
his  technical  staff,  iare  also  at  your  disposal. 
Office  hours:  9  a.m.  to  5  p.m.  dally. 
Saturday,  9  a.m.  to  12  m. 

LLOYD  L.  ROOT, 
State   Mineralogist, 

Third  floor,  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco,  CaL 

Branch  Offices:  New  Orpheum  Building,  Los 
Angeles;  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building  (mail 
address,  P.  O.  Box  1208),  Sacramento;  Bank  of 
Italy  Building,  Bakersfield;  Taft,  Coalinga,  Santa 
Maria,  Santa  Paula. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


M  3  0  ^^^^ 

RECEIVED 

;;PK      4  1980 

PHYS  SCI   LIBRARY 

JON  30^^^^ 

''^^^  1^985 

JUN  301986 


4     |9ob   l^'  BolrfkSlip-25wi-7,'53(A899884)458 


RECEIVE 

NOV    5  1986 

PHYS  SCI  LIBRA  - 


JJvDS2_ 


Calif  omia.     Department 
of  natural  resources. 
Division  of  mines. 

.'YSICAL 
■CIENCES 
LIBRARY 


Call  Numbat: 

TN214 

C3 

A3 

no. 96-97 

C3 
A3 


UMXV&SSITY  OF  CAUFQKJMA 
PAVIS 

113352 


